In its second installment of the SESAM-UPLB Research Impact Series (SRIS), the University of the Philippines Los Baños Interdisciplinary Studies Center (UPLB-IDSC) for water showcased one of its major projects which focused on Lanao Lake Watershed in Lanao del Norte, last March 27, 2023. 

The UPLB-IDSC for Water is one of two studies centers under the School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM). Dr. Patricia Ann J. Sanchez, SESAM Professor and presented her study entitled “Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change and Water Resources Use and Management of the Hydrology of Lake Lanao Watersheds: Averting the Looming Water Crisis in Lanao del Norte”.

In his welcome message, Dr. Rico C. Ancog, Dean of SESAM, mentioned that the purpose of SRIS is to bring to the general public all the research efforts of SESAM and research is one of the tripartite functions of the school being an academic unit. “Water is a dealbreaker when you talk about development and in various fronts, there has been concrete developments how we manage water”, Dean Ancog said.

For his part, Dr. Yusof A. Sucol, Head of SESAM’s Research Division said that SRIS aims to promote and popularize the school’s research and development thrust and milestones that will highlight frontier research areas, methods and impacts of interdisciplinary and integrative environmental research and key collaborative environmental research and socio-ecological development project implementation. “This second SRIS is in conjunction of this year’s celebration of World Water Day”, Dr. Sucol added.

A licensed Agricultural Engineer and a UP Scientist, Dr. Sanchez is also the Chair of the UPLB-IDSC for water and an Outstanding Young Scientist awardee of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in 2019. She earned her PhD Degree at the University of Tokyo in Japan in 2011. Dr. Sanchez is involved in research on hydrology, flood and drought risk, climate resiliency, carrying capacity and water resources assessment.

In her presentation, Dr. Sanchez that the Lanao Lake Watershed is one of the focus projects in the province, as Lanao del Norte has been severely affected by floods and El Niño phenomenon. The project was funded by the National Research Council of the Philippines and UPLB. A two- year project which started in September 2020 and ended August 2022 with a budget of PhP 2M.

She added that effective management of water resources requires comprehensive understanding of the interrelations between the different factors that influence catchment behavior and the resulting water yields. “The project will generate science-based information to support formulation of plans and programs for sustainable management and conservation of freshwater resources”, Dr. Sanchez stressed.

In the closing program, Ms. Catherine Gigantone, a University Research Associate of SESAM and member of the UPLB-IDSC for water said that the project presented that Lanao del Norte will still have more sufficient water supply in the future. However, she added that this may cause more run-off in the communities if no controls will be established. “This is where policy interventions come into play investing in both soft and hard infrastructure that can minimize the risks posed by this problem”, she added.

SRIS is a collaboration of the SESAM Research Division and the Continuing Education and Training Division. More than 100 participants attended via Zoom and FB Live.