ILIGAN CITY – The Geo-SAFER Western Mindanao Project conducted a two-day training, with the theme “Trainor’s Training on Fundamentals of Flood Disaster Preparedness Towards a Flood Resilient Community,” for its partner LGUs and HEIs last March 8–9, 2018 held at Jacko’s Kan-anan, Iligan City.

Two guest resource speakers were invited to share their expertise and the current initiatives of their respective agencies in terms of disaster risk reduction during the first day of the training. Ma’am Anianita R. Fortich, Senior Weather Specialist designated as Officer-in-Charge of PAGASA-Mindanao talked about the World Meteorological Association and the Global Observing System; PAGASA-Mindanao’s Observing Facilities, Basic Instruments, and Equipment; and Information Dissemination. In her talk, she mentioned about how costly their daily operations are and how she is hopeful that their upgrades and expansions will be realized so that they will have a greater scope for the weather monitoring here in Mindanao.

ILIGAN CITY – The MSU–IIT’s School of Computer Studies (SCS), together with Geo-SAFER Western Mindanao, conducted an ArcGIS Training and Research Workshop for the SCS faculty, staff, and graduate students last February 15–17, 24, and March 3, 2018 held at the SCS Multimedia Room and Computer Laboratory.

Notable speakers from the institute—the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Franco G. Teves, the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Dr. Jinky B. Bornales, Geo-SAFER Western Mindanao’s Chief Science Research Specialist Engr. Daniel S. Mostrales, and former Geo-SAFER Western Mindanao CSRS and current School of Developmental Studies faculty Dr. Peter D. Suson—shared their ideas and experiences, inspiring the participants to become active researchers and help their school become a center of excellence.

Caraga State University formally established partnerships with 11 Local Government Units of Agusan del Sur and 1 LGU of Agusan del Norte last February 5-9, 2018 through Memoranda of Agreement for the Geo-Informatics for the Systematic Assessment of Flood Effects and Risks (Geo-SAFER) Agusan Project implemented by the university.