Six towns bordering Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte will be included in a study aimed at assessing their susceptibility to the adverse impact of climate change.
The study, to be undertaken by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, will also cover selected areas in Cagayan Valley and Northern Mindanao.
“Coastal barangays in these areas have patches of mangroves, coral reefs, and sea grasses,” Edgardo M. Esperancilla, project leader and DoST regional director for Eastern Visayas, said in a recent interview.
He said climate change impact that will be looked into include coastal erosion, landslide, loss of livelihood, loss of lives, dwindling fish catch and farm output.
Sogod Bay, located at the tip of Leyte island, is surrounded by 131.67-kilometer aggregate coastlines of the municipalities of Padre Burgos, Malitbog, Bontoc, Tomas Oppus, Padre Burgos, Sogod, Libagon, Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, and Limasawa.
“The area has not yet experienced major disaster as resulting from climate change impact but all of the municipalities around Sogod have already put into place disaster contingency plans and are ready in the event of disasters such as typhoons and flooding,” Mr. Esperancilla said.
Threats to Sogod Bay include sedimentation, growing population near the mangrove areas and depletion of forest resources.
The project started last month with the identification of study sites and listing of households. It will end on February 2013 with a presentation of results to concerned group and agencies.
