By Michael Ray
The study cites how the drainage systems of the Tagoloan and the Cagayan de Oro Rivers are swollen by rainfall coming from the high plateaus of Bukidnon which has an annual volume that is over 60% higher than that of the city itself.
Nati reiterated how Cagayan de Oro itself is a rapidly expanding urban center that is fast becoming a heat sink which enhances evaporation. This aggravates the build up of moisture in the hills above the city that triggers even more rain.
“In fact, a JICA study submitted to the National Water Resource Bureau estimates that from 2005 to 2025, Region X will show the highest levels of water available in the country.” JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) is the independent governmental agency that coordinates the Japanese government’s official development assistance (ODA) to developing nations.
Even more than hits from typhoons, it is flash floods from extreme rainfall, flowing down the rivers and running off the slopes of upland Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon that Cagayan de Oro has to watch out for, highlights the WWF-BPI Foundation study.
ITPI committed to developing CDO’s climate-resiliency
“But while the problem is huge, it can be addressed — or at least we’d like to believe so,” said Atty. Leviste. “After all, we’re already invested in the city and we’re investing even more soon,” he added. “We’re in CdO to stay.”
ITPI plans new projects in the city after the success of Primavera Residences, the twin towers 10-storey condominium which incorporates world class passive cooling technologies such as shadow and sunlight control, wind cooling, and aerodynamics.
Last December, ITPI disclosed its intent to invest at least US$200 million worth of projects within the next six years in Cagayan de Oro, as well as other cities in the Philippines. This will be led by a larger mixed-use development in CdO. Architect Nati said ITPI is proud of the new project’s sustainable design which won the title as the “Most Promising Clean Energy Investment Opportunity in the Philippines in 2013″ from CTI Private Financing Advisory Network (CTI-PFAN).
Since its inception in 2009, Italpinas has quickly taken the lead in creating unique and eco-friendly property developments in the country’s emerging cities. All of ITPI’s projects, from current to proposed feature sustainable architecture designs that are combined with on-site production of renewable energy.
“To prepare for a future defined by climate change, CdO has to manage its rapid urbanization to lessen the damage from climate change. One good way to do this is to strategically diffuse population concentrations by building in the less crowded areas of the city, then to put up efficient mass transit and freight transport systems to link these diffuse settlements. New climate-smart infrastructure is also a very important part of creating climate resilient settlements,” Nati said.
“For one, sea levels are expected to rise because of increasing temperatures. With the occasional storm surge, Cagayan de Oro has to retro-fit its seaports,” he said. Cagayan de Oro is blessed to have world-class international sea ports that is fast emerging hub in the South China Sea and one of the world’s busiest international sea-lanes.
“We’d like to think we’ve done our small part by developing Primavera Residences in an elevated area that’s virtually flood-free at 110 meters above sea level It’s also a much less population-dense area, so we don’t contribute to urban congestion and worsening the city as a heat sink. It’s also a much less population-dense area, so we don’t contribute to urban congestion and worsening the city as a heat sink.”
Natti also he cited how Primavera Residences was designed to lessen its overall energy consumption by around 20 percent through a passive green energy strategy that lessens its carbon footprint. It will use an active on-site energy generation from photovoltaic or solar cells which will soon be installed on the roofs of both towers. This will increase energy savings further.
Passive cooling techniques used at Primavera include an inner courtyard that combined with each units’ cross-ventilation layout, enhances natural airflow and optimizes natural light. This further lessens air-conditioning use and reduces the need for artificial lights.
The towers are also designed to have cantilevered edges that produce shadows that minimize direct sunlight moderating the temperature inside the units.
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