Philippines: Climate Change Office preps municipalities for ClimEx.db
Tacloban City - Representatives from local governments covered under the Resilience and Preparedness toward Inclusive Development (RAPID) program adopted their implementation strategies for the survey on Climate and disaster Exposure Database (ClimEx.db) in a two-day workshop. The database shall be the source of valuable information for the preparation of climate and disaster risk-sensitive comprehensive development and land use plans, contingency plan, as well as guide the community-based initiatives of RAPID.
"The process of long-term recovery requires a factual base to understand who and what are at risk, and what makes them vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and disasters", emphasized Climate Change Office’s Assistant Secretary Goco in her opening message.
The survey will adopt a tablet-based application, ClimEx.db, in the collection of household, building and production area data, which allows faster and more efficient data gathering, processing, and data analysis – veering away from the traditional paper-based surveys. Data are georeferenced, allowing their use in geographic information system platforms and overlay with thematic and hazard maps.
The app is a breakthrough in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. Developed under Project Climate Twin Phoenix by the CCO, it has been used in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and the municipalities of Boston and New Bataan.
"Certainly, there were hurdles in accomplishing the ClimEx.db surveys but we worked closely with the barangays and we had support from the academe," Engr. Valerio, from Cagayan de Oro City explained. Dr. Oponda, from UP Mindanao further emphasized that "apart from what the database can do to help them in their recovery planning, our local government partners in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley also valued the skills and knowledge they acquired from the processes that went into data gathering including time management, proper coordination, and data validation."
ClimEx.db in the RAPID areas will be adjusted with the results of the workshop, including the interphase with the Department of Interior and Local Government on complementation of community-based monitoring system data and with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the cadastral data.
After the workshop, CCO and the local governments will forge partnerships to define roles and responsibilities, and structure the implementation plan based on individual requirements of project partners.
The RAPID Program is being implemented by the Climate Change Commission as a component of Project Climate Twin Phoenix, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and the Australian Government. RAPID supports the long-term recovery of 12 local government units which were affected by Typhoon Haiyan, namely, Tacloban City, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Dulag, Mayorga, MacArthur, Abuyog, Basey, Marabut, Lawaan, and Balangiga by strengthening capacities of communities to manage climate and disaster risks.
Presentations during the inception workshop which also includes sample outputs from Typhoon Pablo areas are available at: projectclimatetwinphoenix.com/resource-library.
For more information about ClimEx.db, download the primer.