Albay sets up center for climate change

MANILA, Philippines - Albay has established the first of its kind science and technology center for the advancement of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) programs in the country.

The Kabalikat Science and Technology Institute (KSTI) is based at the Bicol University (BU) with another pioneering institution established two years ago, the Albay Climate Change Academy.

The academy is dedicated to the training of local government officials.

The KSTI, on the other hand, focuses on research and experimentation on technologies to improve disaster resiliency. 

An innovation and landmark in DRR-CCA history, the KSTI was established recently by virtue of a memorandum of understanding signed by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, Office of Civil Defense regional director Raffy Alejandro, BU president Fay Leah Patria Mata-Lauraya, and Department of Science and Technology assistant regional director Manuel Lucena.

Another signatory was David Haut of the US Marine Experimentation Center (MEC) based at the US embassy in Manila.

Salceda has pioneered innovative programs in DRR and CCA when he became Albay governor six years ago. The province is regularly buffeted by typhoons  and its growth has been stunted by the constant beating of disasters.

Zero casualty goal and preemptive evacuation are just two of Salceda’s innovative strategies that proved effective and have been adopted by the national government and other local government units.

KSTI’s first major project is funded by a $50,000 grant from MEC, for the construction of a prototype 200 square-foot typhoon-resistant building made of expanded polystyrene that can withstand a maximum wind speed of 170 miles per hour.

The structure has its own solar power source and water supply, an example of ready mitigation and risk reduction during disasters.