P94-M research center eyed
The Department of Science and Technology and Mariano Marcos State university-Main Campus has recently kicked off the construction of the first Coastal Engineering and Management R&D Center or Coaster worth P94 million recently.
DoST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said that the Coaster aims to aid in the development of innovations to combat coastal erosion, a prototype of a coastal flood control infrastructure, a data book of flood control structures and a coastal engineering design and guidelines handbook to promote coastal resilience.
He added that the projects are expected to protect resources and coastal communities from coastal erosion and flooding through the effective implementation of science and technology-based coastal management.
The research center is housed in MMSu, Batac, Ilocos Norte in partnership with the Kyoto university of Japan, the university of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State university and other HEIs in Region 1.
The secretary also lauded the research team behind the Coaster led by program leader Nathaniel Alibuyog for coming up with an innovative approach toward solutions to the coastal erosion threats in the Ilocos region.
“DoST continues to offer science and technology interventions that are anchored on four thematic areas: Wealth creation, through economic development and job creation; wealth protection, through climate and disaster resilience; human well-being, through health, education, access to water and energy; and sustainability, by ensuring protection and conservation of natural resources,” Solidum said.
The secretary also lauded the research team behind the Coaster led by program leader Nathaniel Alibuyog for coming up with an innovative approach toward solutions to the coastal erosion threats in the Ilocos region.
“As a staunch advocate of disaster risk reduction and management, I enjoin everyone to take part in these efforts and support the initiatives of DoST, MMSu, and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte. Rest assured that DoST remains committed to serving the Filipino people through science and technology,” Solidum said.
For his part, Alibuyog said that the establishment of Coaster is in line with DoST’s strategic framework, particularly with its long-term vision to provide innovative solutions that will lead to higher productivity and better quality of life, especially in coastal communities.
Region 1 has the nation’s longest shoreline, at 708km, vulnerably exposed to storm surges and tsunamis.
For the past years, the region experienced high failure incidence of coastal flood control structures like sea walls which could be attributed to the yearly occurrence of extreme typhoons and the normal tear and wear of infrastructure projects.