SDG 6 – CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
Smart Water Infrastructure Management Research and Development Center
The University’s Smart Water Infrastructure and Management (SWIM) R&D is a project that aims to introduce innovative water management approaches through institutionalizing a university-based water research center to undertake R&D education, capacity-building programs in the water resources sector and river basins and provide technical extension services. It stands as the lone R&D center that caters to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) problems in the country.
The center aims to support the region with the problem of recurring water hazards due to inclement weather conditions, which cause subsequent damage to agricultural properties. In approaching water hazards, the center undertakes four complementary R&D projects which run for three (3) years, implemented in region 02, with ISU at the lead along with the SUCs in the region, partner government agencies, and local government units.
The center comes with a total budget allocation of about 146 million pesos, which aside from DOST, had an additional grant shared by some Congressmen, Cauayan Smart City, and other LGU’s, other government agencies, and SUC’s in the region.
The University, through the center, has started working with Quirino State University and the National Irrigation Authority- Magat River Integrated System (NIA – MARIIS) in expanding the services of ISU’s Smart Water Infrastructure and Management (SWIM) Research and Development Center.
Dialogue has also been established with universities and research centers in Japan and Vietnam for “Integrated Flood and Sediment Management in River Basins for Sustainable Development” (FSMART) and “Integrated Flood and Water Resources Management in ASEAN River Basins for Sustainable Development” (IFWARM), which is funded by DOST-PCIEERD.
Water Research Development Center
The Water Research and Development Center of the University aims to provide Science and Technology support for the development and management of water and related resources in the Cagayan Valley consistent with national and regional development plans; conduct and strengthen research and development collaboration with local, national, and international stakeholders and partners; and undertake capacity building through degree, non-degree, and innovative training programs. It includes working with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on the planning and design of irrigation development and management at the basin and national levels; independent monitoring and evaluation of irrigation projects; and assessment of irrigation infrastructure; helping the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) with the technical ex ante evaluation of foreign-funded and large locally-funded water-related projects; and doing ex post rates of return evaluations of water-related projects.
The center has established partnerships with the following organizations: Water Research and Development Center (WReDC), Center of Excellence for Ocean Engineering (COE), NTOU, Taiwan; International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); DA-BAR for the projects titled “Identifying Suitable Sites for Small Scale Irrigation Projects in Region 02 through GIS-based Water Resources Assessment”, and “Development of Weather-based Decision Support System for Corn Farmers in Cagayan Valley Region”; Oceana Gold (Phils.) for the project titled “Integrated Watershed Management in Addalam Watershed”.
Activities
- ISU assists NEDA on Water Security Research
- ISU R&D on Smart Water Management gets recognized as NICER by DOST
- ISU’s Water and Disaster-risk Research Initiatives