Aklan SP Hosts Research Studies Utilization Fora

by Odon S. Bandiola

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan, joined in the observance of the National Statistics Month in October. It hosted the presentation of Research Studies and Utilization Fora held at the SP Session Hall on October 1 and 8, 2013.

The forum was mainly organized by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) under Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Roger M. Esto and the Aklan Rivers System Development Council under Executive Director Allen S. Quimpo.

Two (2) research outputs were presented during the forum on October 1 and two researches on October 8. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 6’s “Stakeholders participation in Water Development Program” and that of the Aklan State University’s “The Aklan River System: Physico-chemical characteristics, Geomorphology, Hydrology, Biodiversity, and Socio-Economic and Cultural Profile” where presented.

DENR’s study leader Conrado B. Marquez took the cudgels in presenting the agency’s study on stakeholders’ participation watershed management using the Tigum-Aganan, Maasin, Iloilo Watershed Forest Reserve as model. He proposed it to be replicated in the Nabaoy River Watershed Management in Malay, Aklan.

The Tigum-Aganan Watershed supplies the potable water supply requirements of the greater portion of Iloilo Province while the Nabaoy River provides the potable water supply of Boracay Island.
Professors of the Aklan State University also presented its profiling of the Aklan River System which emanates from its headwaters in Libacao town at the South and drains to the Sibuyan Sea at the north in Kalibo and Numancia.

The ASU researchers profiled the river by its physico-chemical characteristics, geomorphology, hydrology, biodiversity, and socio-economic and cultural profile.

Aklan Vice Governor Gabrielle V. Calizo – Quimpo and Aklan Rivers Development Council Executive Director Allen S. Quimpo both emphasized the indispensability of statistics in the social, political and economic life of every Filipino and anybody else in the world.

The statistical forum held on Tuesday, October 8 at the SP Session Hall presented the study of the Philippine Institute of Development Studies on “Conditional Cash Transfer Program in the Philippines: Is it reaching the Extremely Poor?”. /MP