LiDAR experts, researchers, key city and regional officials, members of the academe and major stakeholders of the PHIL-LiDAR 1 Program assembled in Davao City for a confluence of ideas that would foster the region’s disaster preparedness and resilience. The PHIL-LiDAR 1 Program held the Mindanao Stakeholders Meeting in Brokenshire Convention Center, Davao City on September 8-9. 2016, while a coastal flood validation exercise in Talikod Island, Davao City was conducted on September 10, 2016. Attended by partner universities, officials from the local government and national agencies as well as members of the non-profit sector and the academe. The two-day event was hosted by the University of the Philippines-Mindanao PHIL-LiDAR 1 team.   

Project leaders and intellectual property (IP) officers from partner universities nationwide gathered at the National Engineering Center, UP Diliman for the Intellectual Property Forum. This is a first of its kind event that brought together units from the PHIL-LiDAR 1 and 2 programs. The forum aims to review IP  policies and guidelines that apply to and govern all concerned parties, identify data sharing protocols between all partner SUCs/HEIs and DOST, as well as to identify pointers in crafting a memorandum of agreement on data and IP sharing. It had a total of 67 participants. 

The PHIL-LiDAR 1 team together with Luzon partner universities oriented local government officials on LiDAR products, distributed Flood Hazard Maps and discussed each unit’s accomplishments during the Luzon Cluster Conference and Data Turnover Ceremony held on July 28-29, 2016 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

In observance of DOST's National Science Education Week (NSTW) 2016, the UP PHIL-LiDAR 1 Program showcased its state-of-the-art technology on July 26-29, 2016 at AVR NEC, UP Diliman.

Phil-LiDAR 1 Program representatives headed off to the 4-day DOST-MIMAROMA National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) for the South Luzon Cluster last July 22-25, 2016 held in Xentro Mall in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. Engr. Christopher Cruz, Chief Science Research Specialist of the Data Acquisition Component (DAC) delivered the Phil-LiDAR 1 Program presentation in relation to disaster risk reduction and early warning systems. A total of 221 attendees comprised of students, various Region IV-B Local Government Unit (LGU) DRRM Office representatives, and those from the private sector and other government agencies visited the Phil-LiDAR 1 booth exhibit.

The UP PHIL-LiDAR 1 Program concluded the first Visayas Cluster Conference in Tagbilaran, Bohol on July 14-15, 2016 with collaborative efforts with the University of San Carlos. The event took place in two venues, at Bohol DOST Region 7 on day 1 and at Metrocenter Hotel on day 2. On day 1, it was attended by Visayas partner SUCs/HEIs such as University of San Carlos, University of the Philippines- Cebu, and Visayas State University.  Stakeholders from the Visayas region primarily Bohol and Cebu attended as well such as Cebu PDRRM and Bohol PDRRM who enthusiastically shared their best practices on risk reduction management in their towns. LGUs of Inabanga and Antequera both in Bohol were present as well and elated to have received the flood hazard maps during the turnover ceremony which was one of the highlights of the event. 

The UP PHIL-LiDAR 1 Program in collaboration with the Central Mindanao University (CMU) has successfully concluded this year’s Mindanao Cluster Conference on July 8-9, 2016 in Maramag, Bukidnon.

Department of Agriculture (DA) looks forward to use LiDAR products to advance its mandate of food security for all Filipinos. In a transition meeting held at the National Engineering Center, UP Diliman attended by both incumbent and incoming key officials from the DA, Program Leader Engr. Enrico Paringit presented how the LiDAR technology works and explained the value of LiDAR products in disaster and El Niño preparedness. He encouraged the operationalization of data through a strengthened government-academe linkage because these data provides sufficient evidence to support policy making and implementation. 

The PHIL-LiDAR 1 program participated in the AFPCGSC’s recently concluded science and technology symposium on June 6, 2016 at AFPCGSC Multi-Purpose Hall, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The symposium was initiated in support of Self-Reliance Defense Posture’s (SRDP) ongoing revitalization initiatives with the aim to promote awareness, strengthen interests and generate inputs. The event was supported by its major partners; DOST and Manila Observatory.