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After the typhoon Odette hit the Philippines, CCEF conducted a 6-month project called DEEPER, funded by the Project INSPIRE- Gerry Roxas Foundation through the USAID to help affected coastal communities. The team conducted a 2-month damage assessment in Cebu and Bohol, and presented the results in a multi-stakeholder meeting together with representatives from CENRO, the City/Municipal Planning and experts in the field of coastal resource management. The CCEF invited a panel of marine biologists and experts to participate in this discussion to gather some recommendations from the experts and held a focus group discussion last August 17, 2022 at Cebu City Sports Club, Cebu.
The results of the Inventory of Fallen Trees and Biophysical Assessment was presented by Alyza Noelle Tan, the project monitoring officer for DEEPER, as well as the results for the incentives for conservation work such as upland and coastal debris removal.
After the presentation of the upland survey and trash audit results, Ranie Ibanez, CRM Officer, and Danilo Delizo Jr., Project Associate, presented the Biophysical Assessment results in Talibon, Ubay and in Olanggo. Overall, upland forests are at threat to decreasing biodiversity due to the native species of trees being wiped out by the typhoon and the stronger, invasive tree species being more resilient to strong winds. In addition, trash and water pollution has become worse in island communities due to unregulated tourism, coastal erosion, sedimentation and effluent from agriculture industries and the lack of access to water and electricity in the area.
The recommendations were presented to the panel of experts. Recommendations and suggestions by experts were documented and summarized in the Ecosystem rehabilitation plan endorsed by CCEF to the respective LGUs.
For further information on the results of the Typhoon Odette results, you may send us an email at info@coast.ph.
