9 November - Hagonoy, Bulacan
Site Visit Summary
The North Manila Bay Flood Protection Strategy team commenced the first site visit in the municipality of Hagonoy with a courtesy call with the Mayor and a brief meeting with Hagonoy’s local officials. The team explained the rationale of the project and the site visit itinerary with the Mayor, Vice Mayor, and other representatives of Hagonoy LGU.
Courtesy call with Mayor Raulito T. Manlapaz
The 2nd part of the day consisted out of a site visit in Barangay Tibaguin which lies approximately 5 kilometres south of Hagonoy town proper and is adjacent to the coastline. At the time of the site visits high tides where occurring during night, traces of this were still to be seen on the morning after, see figure below.
Natural high tide at Barangay Tibaguin
During the site visit focus group discussions with stakeholders where conduction composing of approximately 15 fisherfolk and 15 aquaculture farmers. This was repeated for 4 Barangays; Tibaguin, Pugad, Sagrada, and San Pablo.
After presenting the options for Nature-based Solutions as flood protection measure there was a constructive dialogue held one of the main points from the stakeholders were the community preferred mangrove belt and fishpond for livelihood and they are willing to cooperate to protect the flood protection strategy.
Due to the high attendance the team was successful in raising awareness about the strategy and Nature-based Solutions.
In parallel with the focus group discussion various (random) people were interviewed in each Barangay which resulted in the household survey overview as can be seen in Section 6. Another part of the team did a survey type of site visit in which they collected photographic and drone (video) material which can be used to gather a better understanding of the area for people who have not been on the site visit.
Hagonoy Interview with the community
Site Visit Snapshots
Drone shot in Tibaguin (upper left) and Pugad (upper right). A view at fishponds (lower left) and Manila Bay (lower right)