Lopez Group gives P13 M for climate change research

MANILA, Philippines - The Lopez Group has set aside P13 million for research grants to seven projects aimed at mitigating climate change.   

The group channeled the grants through the Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation Inc. or the OML Center.   

The University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University received funding for project proposals submitted by their respective students.   

State-owned UP has three projects, combined into  one program creatively called WHATSUP, which aims to develop weather  and hazard alert and tracking system for urban areas in the  Philippines through the use of mobile applications.   

Under the proposed project, everyone with a cellular phone will be able to forecast and monitor local weather, assess disaster risks and provide feedback to reduce forecasting errors.   

DLSU, meanwhile, received funding for three proposals. One is for a flood detector system in three chosen areas. The school will also develop a guidebook that will contain impacts of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures that are applicable to the agriculture sector.   

The second proposal is a car flotation system that will enable cars to float when floods strike.   

The third DLSU project involves the design of a mathematical model which can serve as a basis in predicting the economic consequences of man-made and natural disasters.  

The model can be used by government agencies, non-government organizations or the private  sector.   

ADMU, meanwhile, received funding for its proposal to develop and set up of an evidence and space-based decision support for climate change adaptation-disaster risk reduction  management.   

OML Center chairman Federico Lopez said with these grants, the center aims to be a leading catalyst for generating  science-based solutions to climate-related risks and disasters in the  developing world.   

“While billions of resources are being allocated to build the  resilience of communities to climate related risks, there is less  support for generating scientific information that could lead to  long-term, practical and sustainable solutions to climate change. We will support applied research with practical outcomes to help the most  vulnerable deal with the impacts of climate change and natural  disasters,” he said.    

First Philippine Holdings Corp., the Lopez Group’s holding company for its investments in energy, real estate, manufacturing,  construction, and energy services, provided the initial funds to put  up the OML Center.