LEGASPI CITY. “An AMIA village will rise soon here in Albay,” this was announced by Lorenzo Alvina, DA Regional Rice and Corn Program Coordinator & Regional Risk Disaster Reduction (DRR) focal person during the orientation on Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment cum Crop Prioritization Training of the AMIA project at a hotel here on July 26. AMIA which stand for Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture was launched in 2014 to enable local communities to manage climate risk while pursuing sustainable livelihood. One of its pilot projects in Camarines Sur is the AMIA village located in barangay Cagbunga in Pamplona which is now a bounty village reaping the benefits that resulted from the implementation of the program.
Speaking before 30 participants composed of Municipal Agriculturist and local Government Officials in selected municipalities of Albay, Alvina said that because of many issues in the Agri & fisheries sector in this province, more robust data are needed to analyse and identify municipalities that need interventions. “Kung mataas and vulnerability ng lugar, more interventions are needed” he said. He hope that by October this year, with the assistance of hired enumerators, the team will come up with a conclusion and recommendation based on the collected data.
Meanwhile, Ricky Laureta, Ph,D. of Partido State University & project leader AMIA 2 discussed the Climate Resistance Vulnerability Adaptation (CRVA) process. He also presented the AMIA 2 project output. The importance of adaptive capability is, “well informed sila kung ano ang mangyayari” he said. “There is also a need to install an Automated Weather Station (AEW) in every municipality” he continued.
Sandy Bobier, AMIA project staff, explained to the participants what to do with the survey tool. He discussed the Crop Identification and Natural Hazards per municipality. Upon completion of the data, a map will be drawn to show which areas are most vulnerable to flood and drought. “Alin sa municipyo sa Albay and mataas ang vulnerability at adaptability” he quoted. Based on the data, AMIA 4 project will be implemented in the most vulnerable areas in Albay. (B. Nunez)