The UPLB IdSC Water project on “Review and Revision of Dam Operation Protocol in Angat Watershed, Bulacan, Philippines” conducted a virtual Focus Group DIscussion (FGD) on March 11, 2022 with agencies and stakeholders outside the Inter-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) of Angat Dam.
Present on the FGD wee representatives from the Water Districts of Norzagray and City of San Jose del Monte, Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) of Bulacan and Pampanga, Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) of Bulacan and Pampanga, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM Corp.), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Bulacan and Pampanga, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) of Bulacan, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region III, Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance, Inc., and research institutions, (University of the Philippines Diliman and Los Baños). Representatives from the project’s funding agency National Water Resources Board (NWRB) were also present and serve as observers during the workshop.
The event was carried out to contribute to the development of an effective communication plan in response to possible updates to the Angat Multipurpose Dam’s operation protocol. Assessing the existing communication system using the van Ruler’s Communication Strategy Framework includes the evaluation of the internal and external situations of Angat Dam TWG. The workshop aims to identify and discuss the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of different factors like policy, economic, social, technology, environmental, and legal (PESTLE) of Angat Dam TWG from the external perspective.
Prior to this, a similar FGD with inter-agency TWG of Angat Dam was conducted last November 15, 2022 focusing on questions on communication mainstreaming within TWG.
Angat dam’s operation rule was last updated in 2009 through Resolution No. 003-1209. One of the identified challenges in updating the Angat Dam Protocol is the inadequate and ineffective communication strategy. (Allan T. Tejada, Jr.)
