NAMRIA, through its Geomatics Training Center (GTC), and with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), conducted a Basic Geographic Information System (GIS) training for Cotabato City on 07-13 May 2023. The training participants were composed of a total of 18 middle-level and technical personnel selected by the local government of Cotabato.

 

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was inked between NAMRIA, represented by Usec. Peter N. Tiangco, PhD, and PDRF, represented by its President, Mr. Rene S. Meily. PDRF is one of the implementing partners for the Climate Resilient Cities (CRC) Project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development, in consortium with other entities such as the Conservation International (CI) and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The CRC Project's overall objective is to improve resilience by strengthening the adaptive capacity of the cities to adapt, mitigate, and manage the impacts of climate change and disasters.

 

The training started with the opening remarks of NAMRIA GTC Manager, Dir. Febrina E. Damaso of the NAMRIA Geospatial Information System Management Branch. She later discussed women empowerment in the NAMRIA workplace. Copies of the Primer on NAMRIA GAD Initiatives were distributed to the participants.

 

The training topics included map appreciation and introduction to GIS, basic map concepts, application of GIS functions in data management, georeferencing, tracing, geoprocessing tools, and hazard spatial overlay and analysis. The required final outputs for the participants included laid out hazard maps.

 

The NAMRIA training team was composed of Ms. Nilca Jane F. Fabellon and Mr. Marlon A. Mariñas as resource persons, and this writer as training assistant. The PDRF training staff were Mr. Mark Lester Rodrigo, Senior GIS Officer; Mr. Rudyard Nano IV, Project Officer; Mr. Narryl Cabuena, Project Officer; and Mr. Luther Opeña, Administrative and Finance Officer.