COMSTE to present “ice cream program”

By Jason de Asis

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 3, 2011-The Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), Manila Observatory (MO) and University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) will present the Integrated Evaluation of Coastal Research Enhancement and Adaptive Management otherwise known as “ICE CREAM” program which was initially funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on April 5, 2011 at the Klima Conference Center of the Manila Observatory from 1:30 to 5:00 in the afternoon.

It aims to investigate climate change impacts on the coasts and adapting wisely to a changing Philippine coastal environment where the program consists of eight projects examining the changing coastal erosion, sea level rise, and water quality; changes in oceanographic processes at different scales; changes in ecosystem patterns and processes; and changes in fisheries harvest.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of COMSTE said that the program intends to produce vulnerability maps and coastal profiles; coastal and ecosystem scenarios; decision options:  cost-benefit analyses, science-based governance processes, and system guidelines; and monitoring, evaluation, and response feedback systems (MERFS).

He added that the results of the different studies will address the different responses such as modeling decision support for Coastal Resource Management strategic action plans, fisheries ecosystem adaptive management strategies for enhancements and conservation (FEAMS-EC), and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Support Network Integrated Coastal Management (MSN-ICM) resilience seas network. (Jason de Asis)