Sorsogon, March 24 2011 — A team of technical experts from ARCADIS, an international consulting company and one of UN-HABITAT’s global partners, visited Sorsogon City on 21-24 March 2011 to work with stakeholders in addressing climate-related water and sanitation issues.
The week-long trip began with a meeting among ARCADIS experts Rutger Perdon, David Eberle, Jason Kim and Diana Caletena, Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic Dioneda and representatives of the City Planning and Development, Environment and Natural Resources, Health and Engineering Offices. On the same day, the ARCADIS team, accompanied by UN-HABITAT Project Coordinator Laids Mamonong and Environmental Specialist Lara Togonon, conducted site visits to some of the identified climate change hotspots. They noted critical areas such as the seawall, toilet and drainage facilities, the business district and coastal settlements. The team also inspected the city-managed wastewater treatment plant at the public market.
The initial exposure provided a good background to the two-day workshop that followed. The workshop, which opened on World Water Day, included an overview of the impacts of climate change on water, and the results of the city’s vulnerability and adaptation assessment. It also involved presentations and lively discussions, highlighting community concerns regarding water supply and quality, drainage and wastewater management, impacts of climate change on health, and the capacity to address flooding particularly in coastal and riverine barangays (villages).
The workshop helped to surface current adaptation measures being implemented by the local government and the community members. This led to a discussion on the technical, institutional and policy gaps that may cause inefficient water management and response. The participants, together with ARCADIS, threshed out the shortages and needs and arrived at alternatives and proposed interventions. Among these are: the development of a city-wide drainage plan; extensive and strategic tests to ensure the potability of drinking water; monitoring of activities that may disrupt water retention and supply; and “softer” but more effective measures such as mangrove reforestation, slope protection and water catchment. It also highlighted the pressing need to integrate water management into city planning.
Sharing their initial observations, ARCADIS expressed admiration for the community’s openness and motivation, and encouraged them to celebrate local achievements to further fuel long-term action.
As agreed during the debriefing, ARCADIS will provide a full assessment report, including proposed interventions within varying timeframes. The results would inform Sorsogon City’s current efforts to enhance its Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Comprehensive Development Plans. UN-HABITAT looks forward to working with the international volunteer team further in providing technical guidance to the city particularly in the areas of water management, water and sanitation, urban planning and flood management.
Reported by Lara Togonon-de Castro
