Iloilo, February 28 2014 — Twenty members of Silay City’s technical working group, led by the City Planning and Development Office and the Office of the City Administrator, continued their comprehensive analysis of vulnerability and adaptation assessment (VAA) as part of the City’s effort to mainstream climate change and disaster risk reduction to local planning.
Said workshop was conducted at Iloilo City during February 26-28, 2014, with technical support of the United National Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Philippines. The City’s exposure to changes in temperature, rainfall volume and extreme events were analysed, as well as possible impacts of climatic changes to the city’s social, economic, institutional, current land uses and environment sectors.
Matching Silay City’s historical trends and local climate weather data with average observed conditions in 1071-2000 and 2020 and 2050 climate scenarios/projections of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the technical working group identified four major hazards such as flood, rain-induced landslide sea level rise and extreme weather event such as flash flood. As the technical working group analysed their local climate data and extensively discussed the stakeholders observations of past events and associated climatic changes, they identified whirlwind (semi-tornado) as a possible hazard, although further consultation with scientists would be needed to support such observation.
The VAA, as advocated by the UN-Habitat in Philippine Cities, is a methodology adopted by Silay for more effective and efficient comprehensive land administration which is reflective of area-based analysis of sectoral sensitivities to climate change such as water and sanitation, education, health services, settlements and peace and security under social development sector; bridges, power utilities, coastal roads under infrastructure development sector; informal settlers and families (ISFs) in danger areas and targeted for relocation, ISFs living in private lands with possibility of eviction, ISFs located in areas that are up for tenurial upgrading and ISFs in government property where infrastructure projects will be implemented under the land use development sector; and sensitivities of sectors such as commercial, tourism, agriculture and fisheries under the economic development sector.
Yearly, the City experiences an estimated of three to a maximum of five tropical depression/cyclones; half of these are destructive, including other weather hazards such as thunderstorm, heavy rainfall, monsoons, cold front and ITCZ. Silay City has dormant volcano (Mt. Patag) which is a potential source of earthquake.
Using the current land use plan of the City, the TWG was able to visually track which zones bear the most impacts of climate changes that would require future re-defining and which basic services and facilities need further re-adjustments, considering the identified thresholds or coping range of elements at risk in the city’s: a) built up areas, 2) industrial zones, 3) strategic fishery and agriculture development zone, 4) open space and forests.
The exposure and sensitivity analyses were essential part in the mainstreaming process, as Silay City is also a pilot city for Achieving Sustainable Urban Development (ASUD) where a new township or an extension city has been identified as the platform to showcase climate resilient urban planning, efficient urban energy, walkability, risk-free settlements and responsive economy and finance. Silay City also envisions to securing its niche as the gateway of Negros Occidental province with its newly constructed airport of international standard. This makes it essential for the City to ensure that both spatial and multi-sectoral plans are informed of climate change towards a resilient urban development.
Silay City has a land area of about twenty one thousand seven hundred seventy two hectares (21,772 has). The City has a population of one hundred seven thousand seven hundred twenty two (107,722). It is known as the Paris of Negros with its antiquated ancestral houses. Its new leadership envisions development of a new city in the vicinity of the built up area, development of a golf course, a horse race track oval, an export processing zone, and other business and tourism-related establishments, plus a introduction of network of roads that will serve as alternate route for travelling northward & southwards. The City has just completed its rapid VAA that led to mainstreaming climate change to its shelter plan. The VAA that was undertaken by the TWG last February 26-28 was aimed at comprehensively analyzing sensitivities of all sectors and sub-sectors. Further coaching and mentoring sessions will still be done at the city to ensure comprehensive coverage of exposure and sensitivity analyses and eventual identification of hotspot barangays (with multi-hazards).
