BAGUIO CITY: 'It is my hope that this memorandum of agreement further strengthens our collaboration with the Municipality of Tuba and La Trinidad, and can serve as a shining example of how shared resources and collaboration can lead to broader benefits and enhanced regional resilience.' Thus declared Mayor Benjamin Magalong during the MoA signing on June 23, 2023, at City Hall between the City Government of Baguio and the Municipalities of Tuba represented by Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan and La Trinidad by Mayor Romeo Salda on the Flood Early Warning, Information and Mitigation System (FEWS) project. 'The city government of Baguio would like to express our gratitude to the government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Asian Development Bank, and Ramboll for their support to the Baguio FEWS project through the Asean Australia Smart Cities Trust Fund,' he said. The mayor said the MoA signing event highlights the importance of collaboration and cooperation between Baguio and the two Benguet towns in the capture and sharing of crucial water level and rainfall data and in building their respective resilience against natural hazards. 'While the FEWS project is based in Baguio, the benefits are not only limited within the city's boundaries. The data from hydrometeorological stations located in La Trinidad and Tuba play a critical role in the effectiveness of the greater flood early warning system. This data forms the backbone of flood prediction and response capabilities, enabling us to understand rainfall patterns and river water levels better,' he added.
