2019

This is an Entry to the Government Best Practice Recognition Awards

Title

School Hydrological Information Network (SHINe)

Organization

Provincial Government of Bulacan

Best practice Focus Area(s)

Climate change adaptation or mitigation

Year Implemented

2009

Summary

School Hydrological Information Network or SHINe is a simple school-based program aimed at addressing issues on the effects of climate change, in particular focusing on awareness of hydrometeorological-related (hydromet-related) disasters. The activity is one way of supporting the Department of Education’s (DepEd) thrust in its developmental program on the “climate change” enhanced curriculum. This is consistent with the underlying principle that disaster awareness begins in schools. 

The program aims to strengthen the community, particularly the school, to cope with disasters such as floods through the school’s regular monitoring of rainfall, river or water level stage (in some areas), and tracking of incoming tropical cyclones path being carried out at the school’s capacity level. The data monitored are readily provided to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office (PDRRMO) and the disaster councils at municipal and barangay levels during times of inclement weather conditions and thus helping out the community in its disaster preparedness and mitigation activities. Started with only 3 school members, (DRT, JOHN J. RUSSELL, AKLE) today, SHINe has a total of thirty-six (36) secondary level schools connected with the program and an average of about 350 students involved annually during their Annual Conference.

The essence of SHINe is disaster awareness through the school’s hydrological monitoring activities. It empowers the school and community to protect, prepare, and make them resilient against the disastrous effects of floods. Early part of 2013 the PGB through the PDRRMO had a tie-up program with Save the Children’s project “ENCORE” (Enhancing Community Resilience to Disasters). More schools were made part of SHINe as a result of this. SHINe was also replicated in the Municipality of Baggao, Cagayan through the DILG’s GO-FAR program in some 11 schools, and lately the Baggao Municipality had their own conference as well.

The Bulacan SHINE Program is a joint activity initiated by the Provincial Government of Bulacan through its Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the DepEd (Department of Education) of Bulacan with the continued support and guidance of the Pampanga River Flood Forecasting & Warning Center (PRFFWC) of PAGASA.

SHINe is an offshoot/outcome of the Community-Based Flood Mitigation and Management Program (CBFMMP) of Bulacan province. SHINe was conceptualized for Bulacan province in 2008 in light of local limitations including the need for barangay-level training in hydrological observations and disaster (hydromet-related) preparedness with the assistance of PRFFWC. The program  was launched in 2009 by the Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) through its PDRRMO with the continued guidance of the PRFFWC of PAGASA.

Background and Problem

The Objectives

  • The true essence of SHINe is disaster awareness through the school’s hydrological monitoring activities. It empowers the school and community to protect, prepare and make them resilient against the disastrous effects of floods within the province.
  • Enhance disaster awareness of the school populace through regular hydrological monitoring, and maintain a high level of school preparedness at all times, thereby preventing loss of life and damage to property.
  • Coordinate and provide timely hydrological information to the PDRRMO, and municipal and barangay
  • Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) for efficient operations of the flood warning system in the province.
  • Develop long-term strategies on the provincial and national levels based on the data and information collected from the network of SHINe schools.

Challenge(s) that the organization experienced that the Best Practice addresses

  • Floods remain as the major natural disaster that affects the province of Bulacan. A wide area of the province is affected annually. The PGB through its PDRRMO, with the continued guidance of the PRFFWC of PAGASA, maintains and operates a network of rainfall, river and flood stage observation stations within the province as part of its flood disaster mitigation and management program.
  • Recognizing the increase in the frequency and severity of disasters in Bulacan during the last five years, particularly those relating to hydrometeorological origin and the threatening adverse effects of climate change particularly to the vulnerable areas in the province, the PDRRMO and the DepEd in Bulacan, taking the idea and support of PRFFWC, initiated the School Hydrological Information Network or “SHINe”.
  • With the growing concern on Global Warming and its adverse impacts to the environment and an extreme change in climate, it is but timely that schools, particularly the secondary level, get seriously involved in this issue in order to be able to understand what the situation will be and in response possibly formulate (doable) mitigating or adaptable ways in their own capacity and level to address this issue. SHINe is one major program aimed at addressing the issues on Global Warming, particularly focusing on the awareness to hydrometeorological-related disasters as a result of changes in climate. The activity is another way of supporting the DepEd’s thrust in its program on “climate change” enhanced curriculum. This is consistent with the underlying principle that disaster awareness should begin in schools.

Solution and Impact

The true essence of SHINe is disaster awareness through the school’s hydrological monitoring activities. It empowers the school and community to protect, prepare and make them resilient against the disastrous effects of floods within the province.  It enhances disaster awareness of the school populace through regular hydrological monitoring, and maintains a high level of school preparedness at all times, thereby preventing the loss of life and damage to property. It supports coordination and provision of timely hydrological information to the PDRRMO, and municipal and barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) for efficient operations of the flood warning system in the province. It is useful in development of long-term strategies on the provincial and national levels based on the data and information collected from the network of SHINe schools.

Floods remain as the major natural disaster that affects the province of Bulacan. A wide area of the province is affected annually. The PGB through its Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), with the continued guidance of the Pampanga River Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (PRFFWC) of PAGASA, maintains and operates a network of rainfall, river and flood stage observation stations within the province as part of its flood disaster mitigation and management program. Recognizing the increase in the frequency and severity of disasters in Bulacan during the last five years, particularly those relating to hydrometeorological origin and the threatening adverse effects of climate change particularly to the vulnerable areas in the province, the PDRRMO and the Department of Education (DepEd) in Bulacan, taking the idea and support of PRFFWC, initiated the School Hydrological Information Network or “SHINe”.

With the growing concern on Global Warming and its adverse impacts to the environment and an extreme change in climate, it is but timely that schools, particularly the secondary level, get seriously involved in this issue in order to be able to understand what the situation will be and in response possibly formulate (doable) mitigating or adaptable ways in their own capacity and level to address this issue. The School Hydrological Information Network (SHINe) is one major program aimed at addressing the issues on Global Warming, particularly focusing on the awareness of hydrometeorological-related disasters as a result of changes in climate. The activity is another way of supporting the DepEd’s thrust in its program on “climate change” enhanced curriculum. This is consistent with the underlying principle that disaster awareness should begin in schools.

Focus of Bulacan SHINe program is the secondary schools, initially those that are situated at the upstream areas and eventually to spread out to all schools within the province. Schools were provided with digital rain gauges and/or river stage monitors and selected student groups were given the necessary orientation, training and supervision to complement the program. In addition to this, the student groups were also given orientation regarding climate change awareness and related disaster risk reduction. The program aims to instill climate change awareness to the student expecting that such awareness will be shared/transferred to their friends and family and eventually to the community. The program further aims to create an Information/Data Network that will be vital in disaster risk reduction. The data and information collected can be used in many ways such as for research purposes, infrastructure development, agriculture, and in many other fields of applications. Most of the schools chosen initially were located in remote upland areas that are likely to experience first the effects of impending floods and landslides.

One solid indication that SHINe was a success in the province of Bulacan is the strong ties of the PRFFWC with the PDMO group. This is probably due to the unselfish sharing of data, information and other communications between the two entities especially during times of inclement weather conditions. Another thing is that PRFFWC has provided their services in every training and orientation organized by the PDRRMO whenever there is a need for this at the municipal and barangay levels. On the other hand, PDRRMO has its resources made available at all times, whenever possible, to the PRFFWC particularly in the latter’s post-flood surveys and field works within, and at times outside as well, the province of Bulacan. It has been a solid partnership that should emanate between the local and national government agencies.

During the passage of Tropical Cyclones “Ondoy” and “Pepeng”, more than 30 people died and up to P500 million worth of property damage were incurred for both agriculture and infrastructure in Bulacan. It could have been a much worse disaster if not for the continued exchange of information and data between the PDRRMO, the local disaster councils, and the observations of SHINe groups and their knowledge on flood disaster preparedness. “Ondoy” in particular was an event that devastated the highly urbanized metropolis of Manila. During the last few years, the data submitted and shared by students has been one of the references of the PDRRMO as well as the C/MDRRMOs in providing their local LCEs with knowledge regarding rainfall situations thus helping out the community in its disaster preparedness and mitigation activities.

Milestones

  • The school has a set-up of hydrological monitoring equipment (rain gauge and/or river stage, tropical cyclone tracking board) that can form part of the school’s science development programs and related activities
  • A data set of hydrological information that can be used for future research, commercialization for infrastructure and agricultural purposes, and many more relevant applications in the community and the country as a whole
  • Prevents loss of life and lessen damage to properties as a result of increased school and community awareness of hydromet-related disasters such as floods and landslides
  • Empowers the school and the community to act together before, during and after disastrous flood events
  • Enhances student’s scientific inclination and provides an avenue for interschool dynamics and social activities
  • Clear direction on involving and preparing the community to cope with and minimize the adverse impact of hazards, natural disasters, and man-made crises

Recognitions / Awards:

  •  Featured by GMA in Unang Hirit
  •  Articles Published in Philippine Star
  •  Special Citation awarded by NDRRMC
  •  Recognized by Oxfam International and DILG as one of the three best practices community-based initiatives in DRR/Climate Change Adaptation
  •  Cited in Oxfam’s 2011 book, RISING TO THE CALL “Good Practices on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Philippines”

Next Steps:

  • The PDRRMO proposed the turn-over of its SHINe project to the City / Municipal DRRMOs.