NAMRIA NEWSCOOP


NAMRIA holds well-attended IEC in Region V on Modernization of Philippine Geodetic Reference System
By: Celeste E. Barile, PhD

A well-attended Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign on the Modernization of the Philippine Geodetic Reference System (PGRS) was held at the Oriental Hotel, Lepazpi City, Albay on 30 August 2018.  It was the fourth in the series of campaigns conducted on the PGRS modernization.  The campaign aims to disseminate information regarding the modernization program and gather stakeholder insights about it.
 
The event started with the welcome remarks of Atty. Antonio A. Abawag, DENR Region V Regional Director, where he thanked NAMRIA for conducting the regional IEC in Legazpi City.  He noted that the IEC on modernization will give everyone a clear idea of the objectives and importance of the program.  He encouraged participants to raise their concerns during the open forum.
 

Regional Director Atty. Abawag delivers his welcome remarks.

 
Meanwhile, NAMRIA Mapping and Geodesy Branch (MGB) Dir. Ruel DM Belen delivered his keynote address and thanked the participants for their interest and sharing of their precious time.  He stressed that NAMRIA’s advocacy is to inform and educate the stakeholders about the PGRS modernization.  He mentioned that PRS92 is a static or local system and does not account the earth’s crustal movement, hence there is a need to shift to a semi-dynamic datum. He said that it is also a part of NAMRIA’s advocacy on this end is to closely collaborate with the other members of the project technical working group such as Land Management Bureau (LMB) and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology for the government sector; University of the Philippines (UP) College of Engineering and FEATI University for the academic sector; and the Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. and the Philippine Geodetic Engineers and Geomatics Society for the private sector.  He further said that all the members have their respective roles in this modernization of the PGRS.    
 

NAMRIA MGB Director Belen delivers the keynote address during the opening of the event.

 
Invited experts in the fields of geodesy and surveying shared their knowledge on the following topics: (1) Migration to Geocentric Datum by Engr. Epifanio D. Lopez, Chair, Board of Geodetic Engineering, Professional Regulation Commission; (2) Implications of Modernization: Cadastre by Engr. Bienvenido F. Cruz, Chief of the Geodetic Surveys Division, DENR LMB;  (3) Research and Development in Support to the PGRS Modernization by Prof. Louie P. Balicanta, Current Chair of the Department of Geodetic Engineering in UP-Diliman; and (4) Implications of Modernization: DENR Region IV Operations by Engr. Josie A. Columna, Chief of the Surveys and Mapping Division,  DENR Region V Technical Services.
 

Engineer Lopez, seated with other members of the panel, answers a question from the audience.

 
The following NAMRIA specialists also served as resource persons on the modernization of the PGRS: Engr. Ronaldo C. Gatchalian, Chief of the Geodesy Division; Engr. Charisma Victoria D. Cayapan, Horizontal Section, Geodesy Division; Engr. Donie T. Mancera, Head of the Philippine Active Geodetic Network (PAGeNet) Group; and Engr. Ma. Almalyn A. Balladares (Assistant Head, PAGeNet Group) who presented on PAGeNet products and services.
 
Among the questions raised by the audience during the open forum were on the effect of modernization on cadastral maps and land classification, PAGeNet application on survey and research for the academe, and role of DENR and LMB in the modernization project.
 

Audience member Engr. Ana Marie R. Abante poses to the panel her question on the importance of the PAGeNet in the academe.

 
NAMRIA MGB Assistant Director Ofelia T. Castro officially closed the event and expressed the agency’s gratitude to all of the participants from DENR, local government units, academe, private sector, and other government offices.  She told the attendees not to “be afraid of change but to embrace it for the country’s development.”
 

NAMRIA MGB Assistant Director Castro delivers her closing remarks.

 
 


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