2 Responses to “Forum”

1. archtGILJAPITANA
   March 29th, 2009 at 6:57 pm

   

   Bioregionalism is already effectively used by some Highly urbanized cities worldwide, both 4marine and land and air, and maybe an old kind of “banana” for them, yet a new term for many of us especially the poor flood victims of our region which are not even mindful of the next recurrence of Typhoon Frank, “ang ila adlaw2x nga tilig-angon amu naya ila concern”. It maybe similar to Integrated Area Planning among towns or provinces. We can adapt it also in our situation. Yes, im sure it will be an effective concept/tool.

   MPDO’s, and PPDO,s have permanent physical offices and employees, and most importantly they have sure regular fixed monthly salaries and other benefits. But.. If I may ask…

   May ara kita RPDO?? or Regional Planning and Develpoment Office/Coordinator?? the answer is NO.. is there a need to create this?? Im not sure also… if RDC, NEDA, DILG and the short-termed Presl. Assistants would raise a hand, Better.

   I mean, if we adapt bioregional planning which will involve several provinces or municipalities, an ala “RPDO” body or permanent office has to be created, equipped with salaries etc.. they will be mandated to coordinate, analyze, formulate plans, even implement, etc.

   If these office will duplicate the mandates of NEDA, DILG, PA, and RDC, then GOOD, theres no need to create this new office. But are the officers of these existing agencies, have enough time to work, think,write, talk, on a daily (8hrs) basis on these regional general and specific projects?? I understand, they are also busy with their daily regular and intervening functions.

   We could not afford to work on regional matters only during monthly or quarterly meetings. We already have a lot of planning initiatives, sometimes without a review, we make new ones.. May I be corrected if my opinion is unrealistic.

   PS. Waay ko kabalo kun sino masabat sini. kun wala ok lang ah.
   Pls, provide a smiley icon in this web.. he he.

2. archt GIL JAPITANA
   April 4th, 2009 at 3:13 am

   

   “CONVERT DIRTY FLOODWATER TO CLEAN ENERGY”

   The floodway seems to help drain one of our most precious resources ( water ) into the sea!!

   During the June21 flood, and amun balay sa Cuartero Hiway Jaro, gin bahaan man, four rooms on the ground floor was waterlogged up to the ceiling, 3cars on top of our elevated garage (12” higher than the hiway) was not spared and my wife’s colon CA recurred after helping us clean 4feet of mud.

   While the flood is at its highest level, everybody’s prayers seem to be in unison, “SAN-O NI MAHUBAS AND BAHA MAN??” or “ANO ORAS MAGHUNAS??. But, daw waay gid ko kabati nga may namangkot kun “DIIN NAGKADTO ANG DAKU-DAKU NGA VOLUME SANG TUBIG?? Of course the answer is very obvious nga sa DAGAT.

   We failed to “STORE” that precious water (before it goes to the sea) in our baso, pitsel, banga, tadyaw, labador, balde, laton, alyebe, tangke, watern cistern, reservoirs and Damns ! ay, Dam gali.

   If we have stored it, then we will be able to use it during seasons when water supply is low.

   I have a recommendation.. this Idea was inspired by our Banaue Rice Terraces which its “pelete” or earth dikes holds water for agricultural use. The excess water overflows on a regulated mode thru a “Trampa” and goes down to the next lower level of rice paddy.

   In our case, these earthdikes shall be transformed into a 4-lane provincial/national road which will connect the seaports of the northern towns and the seaports of the southern towns via the New Iloilo Airport ( central towns) forming a radial road with Iloilo City as the center of the radius. The south and north seaports of Iloilo Prov. also connects to the north and south seaports of Negros island thereby creating a Land, Air and Sea transport Network.

   This radial road will serve as the “pelete” to hold surface run-off and rainwater by a canal on one side. Thus “preventing” rainwater and other souce of water to become floodwater. A storage is already made at this level. We now have water for household, drinking (processed), agri, industrial, etc. We can make one, two or three layers concentric radial roads which will depend on the actual ground gradient.

   The best component of this dream, is the “trampa” which will be transformed into a “Hydro Power” as source of clean energy. A large, micro or mini hydropower plants, which will depend on the volume of water collected, maybe constructed during the last phase. Its location shall be at the confluence of the main river and the radial canal. If volume of water is not enough, hydropower may not be feasible. The project will only be used to store water. ( an FS will make sure that no “white elephant” will swim and get drowned in the storage facility).

   By this idea, we solve flooding, water supply (drinking, agri, home, comml, indl use) , power supply (clean energy), and accessibility (land, water and air). A reforestation component shall be in place not only to ensure long range sustainability, but also to ensure good quality of air. We can make a scale model in order to simulate flow of water downstream.

   Project implementation shall be done in phases, Phase1 should be functional without phase2, same as with phase 3 and 4.

   If given the chance and all support, and with the help of my colleagues in United Architects of the Philippines, Iloilo Chapter, and PICE, PSME, CHE, IIEE, EnP, and other technical group, we are willing to conduct a comprehensive study for this very ambitious yet noble project. Partial data gathering is now being done.

   Together we can shoot a flock of birds using one stone! ( pay hanggud nga bato guro!! If my dream is not colored, then somebody has to paint it.)

   Siling ni Albert Einstein, if at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope in it…

   AMEN!!