September 10, 2014 – The Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) Lidar project office conducted an inception meeting on Tuesday with University President Karel San Juan S.J., DOST IX Director Brenda Nazareth-Manzano, together with Mr. Martin Wee, the Assistant Regional Director for Finance, Administrative Support and Technical Services, Ms. Rosemarie Salazar, the Manager of Regional Standards and Testing Laboratories and Engr. Mahmud Kingking, the Assistant Director for Field Operation Services.
Project leader Mario Rodriguez, presented the profile of AdZU Lidar and the different components of the project. He stressed the importance of the project in the planning, development and hazard management of the region. He said Phil-Lidar 1, the flood hazard mapping component, prepares the region for floods with more accurate predictions and an earlier warning time. Phil-Lidar 2, the other hand, is the component for resources assessment. It is an important step in future food security and a stable economy especially in a mainly agricultural region.
Also presented in the meeting were the updates of past and ongoing activities and office operations statistics.
Fr. Karel San Juan S.J. and Director Manzano were pleased with the project and its positive effects for the region. The skills development of local people including AdZU faculty and staff was also mentioned as an important step moving forward.
The Phil-Lidar project as it is known is an extension of the Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment and Mitigation (DREAM) project of the University of the Philippines under the DOST and Project NOAH. AdZU is one of five participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Mindanao and is the implementing agency for the Zamboanga Peninsula Region.
Following the inception meeting, Fr. Karel San Juan S.J. conducted the blessing of the AdZU-Lidar offices and staff. Among the visitors were DOST IX Director Brenda Nazareth-Manzano, other DOST officials, and Ateneo de Zamboanga University Administration officials and staff.
