PHIVOLCS conducted an online training entitled “Capacity Enhancement of the National Irrigation Administration on Hazard, Impact Assessment and Database Development through the Use of REDAS Software (Module 4 - REDAS Multi-Hazard Impact Assessment Module)”.  This was held from March 22 - 25, 2022.  The main goal of this module was to train NIA participants on the different REDAS impact assessment tools for the following hazards: earthquake ground shaking, severe wind, crop damage, flood and lahar.

There was a total of 28 participants consisting of geologists and engineers from the NIA PPD-ED, Operations Dept, DSD-ED, BBMPP, JRMP, UPRIIS, Field Offices of Region 4A, 7, 10, 11 and one guest participant from Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

The training was headed by DOST Undersecretary and PHIVOLCS Officer-in-Charge Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., REDAS Program Coordinator, Associate Scientist Dr. Maria Leonila P. Bautista and REDAS Course Advisers Dr. Bartolome C. Bautista, Ishmael C. Narag, and Engr. Angelito G. Lanuza. The speakers and facilitators were Perla J. Delos Reyes, Engr. Rhommel Grutas, Dave Andrei Rivera, Ian P. Javier, John Deladia, Jordana Marie L. Argamosa, Noel C. Rosario Jr., Sarena P. Tarongoy, Hannah Joy Torio and Jose Vincent Cruz.  The guest facilitators included Engr. Timothy John Acosta from UPD-ICE, Julius Vincent Umali from MGB and Juan Elmer Caringal, Meliton Pio F. Guzman, Loren Joy Estrebillo and Karlo J. Timbal, all from PAGASA.

On March 22, a pre-training orientation was conducted to guide the participants in the installation of the impact assessment tools that will be used throughout the training.  Afterwards, Dr. Rhommel N. Grutas discussed the UPD-ICE Building Typology in order for the participants to be familiarized on the different building types in the Philippines which is important for conducting impact assessment.  Engr. Timothy Acosta from UPD-ICE discussed the latest Severe Wind Vulnerability Curves to be used used in the Severe Wind Impact Assessment.

The impact assessment module started with the severe wind hazard.  Ms. Estrebillo of PAGASA talked about the Introduction to Severe Wind Hazard and Risk Assessment and Severe Wind Hazard Simulation for TC Nitang.  For computing the impacts, Mr. Guzman and Mr. Timbal, both of PAGASA, taught the use of the SWERVE using Qlik Sense Tool for computing impacts.  Afterwards, the REDAS CropDat (Crop Damage Assessment Tool) were taught to the participants using the exposure data of palay and corn in Tabuk City, Kalinga.  For the hazard scenario in CropDat, the severe wind hazard was generated using the REDAS SWIFT by simulating the STY Lawin track and the flood susceptibility map of the province based on the MGB data..

During the second day, the REDAS FLoAT (Flood Loss Assessment Tool) was discussed by Sir Julius Vincent Umali from MGB, using Laguna province as the study area while Sir Juan Elmer Caringal of PAGASA lectured on Community-based Flood Early Warning System afterwards.  During the afternoon, another tool was introduced which is the REDAS QLIST (Quick Lahar Impact Simulation Tool) with Albay as study area for hyper concentrated lahar flow scenario.  Preparatory lectures for REDAS SHAke (Seismic Hazard Impact Assessment Tool) were also discussed by Engr. Rhommel Grutas such as Earthquake Vulnerability Curves and How to Identify Building Earthquake Damage Levels for Risk Assessment.

For the third day, REDAS SHAke (Seismic Hazard Impact Assessment Tool) was discussed with Bulacan as sample area for a Mag 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault as scenario earthquake.  The results of the impact assessment modules were numbers of population and buildings affected, injuries and fatalities and economic losses.  During the afternoon, workshop discussion was conducted with Engr. Angelito Lanuza of PHIVOLCS as the main facilitator.  The workshop details the additional functionalities the participants would like to add in REDAS to make it more useful to their respective offices.

The training session were successfully conducted with the participants engaged all throughout despite the virtual setup and the slow internet connectivity issue. Based on the evaluation form responses, the participants mentioned that the training was very informative and useful to their respective offices.