SEARCA led TA Team meets ADB

  • 22 May 2014

Dr. Ancha Srinivasan (4th from left), ADB Principal Climate Change Specialist with the team of consultants led by its Team Leader Dr. Candido A. Cabrido, Jr (5th from left) during the courtesy call at ADB. This is for the TA on Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Watersheds funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction through ADB.

MANDALUYONG, Philippines – “Visibility, collaboration, and project ownership.” These were the words emphasized by Dr. Ancha Srinivasan, Principal Climate Change Specialist of the Asian Development Bank, during the courtesy call of the SEARCA led team of consultants and staff for the project “Technical Assistance (TA) on Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Critical Watersheds” on 9 May 2014 at the ADB Headquarter in Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

The TA is funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) through the ADB, which seeks to demonstrate climate-resilient green growth options in critical watersheds in nine municipalities in the Lower Marikina River Basin (Marikina, Cainta, and Quezon City), Camarines Sur (Naga City, Milaor, and San Fernando), and Davao Oriental (Banganga, Cateel, and Boston). The Climate Change Commission (CCC) serves as the implementing agency for the government of the Philippines.

Members of the SEARCA led Consortium are CTI Engineering, Ltd. of Japan, Ergons Project Marketing Consultant (ERGONs) and Woodfields Consultant, Inc. (WCI).

The TA will create plans for green growth and resilience in each of three critical watersheds by considering five dimensions: (1) economic development; (2) resilience to climate change; (3) biodiversity, ecosystems, and social development; (4) greenhouse gas emissions; and (5) poverty alleviation. Staff from national agencies will collaborate with LGUs and other stakeholders on the development and delivery of outputs through participation in dialogues and training activities. Through increased awareness of potential benefits of climate actions, funding opportunities, and other incentives, it is expected that the national agencies and participating LGUs will remain committed to implement locally appropriate measures for green growth and resilience, and integrate them into local development plans.

Dr. Ancha told the group that the stakeholders, especially the local government units, must buy-in and own the project. “There is a need to join hands with them rather than let this be a separate effort, which hopefully will lead to potential investments and partnerships for long term sustainability,” he added.

Likewise, the consultants were encouraged “to keep communication channels open, be pro-active in helping the LGUs covered by the project and be visible not just in the social media but create an impression that the consultants are there to help.”

The Consulting Team present during the visit was led by Dr. Candido A. Cabrido, Jr., Project Team Leader and National Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Specialist; Dr. Teodoro Villanueva, Deputy Team Leader and National Climate Change Mitigation Specialist; Dr. Florencia Pulhin, International Climate Change Mitigation Specialist; Dr. Hector Sales, National Natural Resource Management Economist; Dr. Esteban Godilano, National Geographic Information Systems Specialist; Dr. Paulo Pasicolan, National Capacity Building Specialist; Ms. Ma. Emelinda Mendoza, National Gender Mainstreaming Specialist; Ms. Antonieta Arceo, National Multimedia, Communication and KM Specialist; Ms. Teresita V. Pascual, Sectoral Specialist for Water Resources; Dr. Lope Santos III, OIC and Program Specialist of the SEARCA Project Development and Management Department (PRODEV), and Ms. Nelfor Atienza, Business Development and Marketing Advisor of CTI Japan. (Antonieta Arceo)