This project funded by the APN under its CAPaBLE program led by UPLB-INREM. They conducted a seven-stage watershed-wide capacity-building activities under guided by the ISET Climate Resilience Framework and the Participatory Climate Change Adaptation Using Watershed Approach by Pulhin et. al. (2022) with the end goal of increasing knowledge on multi-hazard events of the communities and institutions and capacitating them in crafting adaptation measures (in the form of project proposals) using the information generated by the project. The seven stages are: Initial Meetings with Local Stakeholders, Formalization of Partnerships, Local Engagements and Data Gathering Activities, Assessment of Institutional Capacities, Trainings and Workshops, Declaration of Commitment, and the Conduct of the Science Policy-Forum. The conduct of the activities was not without challenges and three were identified: the travel restrictions of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Changing Political Setting and Context caused by the national and local elections, and subsequent electoral protests, and the Challenge of Cooperation beyond LGU Boundaries.

The Quinali A Watershed is composed mainly by six local government units (LGU): Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Oas, Polangui, and Libon – all of which have expressed willingness to participate throughout the initial engagements and visits by the project team to the respective local chief executives (LCE). They were also equally enthusiastic during the data-gathering activities, assessments, and in attending the trainings and workshops. Based on the institutional capacity assessments, core group institutions were found to have high capacities to respond while they have low scores for information flows. To this end, the team conducted lectures on probabilistic risk assessments, hazard map interpretations, the watershed approach, a hands-on board game activity on cascading hazards, presentation of results, and project proposal training. A declaration of commitment was signed by the local stakeholders to ensure that the proposals, experiences, and lessons learned will continue beyond the project timeline.

As part of the policy advocacy of APN, UPLB-INREM, and the project, a Science-Policy Forum was held at the sidelines of the 4th International Conference on Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (INREM 2023) last November 22, 2023. It was attended by APN, researchers of the project team, and representatives of some core group institutions. The forum became an avenue to discuss policy recommendations and the find possible ways to mainstream multi-hazard scenarios in the development plans of the LGUs.