Project code TAO-Pilipinas, Inc. www.tao-pilipinas.org 1705

Mainstreaming Evidence-based Adaptation (EbA) – Infrastructure Assessment

Consultancy / Professional services

Location : Southern Date : June to September 2017 Client : GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation) Project partners . UP Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) Funding support . GIZ Contract / agreement value . PHP 56,350

Hinungangan Watchtower and training center Project brief

In 2017 TAO-Pilipinas worked as infrastructure specialist in a short-term consultancy project with the UP Marine Science Institute (UP MSI). The project, Assessment, Field Validation and Documentation of Evidence-based Adaptation (EbA) Measures with Potential for Scaling Up in Coastal and Marine Ecosystems, aimed to capacitate key government actors in the EbA Core Group in terms of evaluating efficacy of interventions in coastal and marine ecosystems. Specifically, the ACC Bio Small Grants Project Facility gave infrastructure support in 2009-2010 to select barangays in to establish seven (7) Bantay Dagat Watchtower and Training Centers.

TAO-Pilipinas conducted the infrastructure assessment of facilities in three (3) barangays: Calag-itan and , Ambao in Municipality, and Manhilo in the City of .

The result of the assessment of the watch tower and training facility showed incompatibility of functions that affected the optimization of facility use. Location-wise the watchtowers need to be in sites that will give the best vantage point for the sea/coastal area monitoring activities of the Bantay Dagat and these locations were not the best in terms of accessibility. The training center in the facility has been largely underutilized due to this. There were also issues in the security and safety (of the equipment) as well as maintenance concerns because of the need to constantly repair the facility to abate deterioration with its constant exposure to harsh weather conditions.

The assessment helped Local Government Units understand better the use and function of infrastructures built and how location, design and construction materials used can affect effectivity of adaptation measures.

Project output . Project report

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