Geological Assessment of the Pantabangan Area

A study by Lasco et al. (2020) presents a comprehensive investigation into the carbon
budgets of terrestrial ecosystems in the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed region. This study is
a part of the Assessments of Impacts and Adaptations to Climate Change (AIACC) project and
serves as AIACC Working Paper No.10.

The primary objective of this research is to assess and understand the carbon dynamics
within the terrestrial ecosystems of the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, a significant
ecological region in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Carbon budgets play a pivotal role in the context
of climate change and its potential impact on ecosystems. This study examines how various
factors, including land use, vegetation types, and climate, influence the carbon balance in the
region. (Lasco et al., 2020).

The authors employ a multidisciplinary approach, combining ecological, environmental,

and climatological methodologies to gather data and analyze the carbon budgets of the terrestrial
ecosystems in the watershed. By examining the carbon fluxes, storage, and emissions in this
specific geographical area, the research aims to contribute to our broader understanding of
carbon cycling in ecosystems and its implications for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
(Lasco et al., 2020).

This research is part of a larger initiative supported by grant number AS21 from AIACC,
a collaborative project involving START (SysTem for Analysis, Research, and Training), the
Third World Academy of Sciences, and the UN Environment Programme. The AIACC project,
primarily funded by the Global Environment Facility, seeks to build scientific and technical
capacity in developing countries to respond effectively to climate change. It promotes scientific
knowledge exchange, development, and adaptation planning. (Lasco et al., 2020).

Gojo Cruz, P. H. et al. (2018) explore the rich biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles in
the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, a region within the Caraballo Mountain Range on
Luzon Island, Philippines. The study presents detailed accounts of 59 species of amphibians and
reptiles, including frogs, skinks, agamids, gekkonid lizards, varanids, and snakes, recorded in
this area. Remarkably, 42 of these species are Philippine endemics, with 25 species exclusively
found in the Luzon faunal region. The research also highlights unresolved taxonomic issues for
seven species, including the need for taxonomic partitioning. Notably, this comprehensive survey
expands the total number of amphibian and reptile species for the Caraballo Mountain Range to
66. The findings suggest that the Caraballo Mountain Range, particularly the Pantabangan-
Carranglan Watershed, may be a potential center of herpetofauna diversity and endemism within
Luzon. This discovery has significant implications for the region's biodiversity conservation
efforts and further underscores the importance of preserving the Caraballo Mountain Range's
unique ecosystems.

Topographical and Geological Analysis of Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija

The research study by Ubaldo, E. F., & Avila, D. M. (2018) focuses on the lexicographic
exploration of unique Tagalog words spoken in the Pantabangan region of Nueva Ecija,
Philippines. Employing a descriptive research methodology that includes preparation, data
collection, lexical analysis, evaluation, and revision, the study aims to identify and document
Tagalog words specific to this geographical area. The study involves native-born citizens of
Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, who serve as informants for the collection of distinct words. These
words are systematically compared against two standard dictionaries and are subjected to
evaluation by a panel of five language professors. Any words found to be already registered in
both dictionaries and recognized by the language professors are excluded from the final list. The
research is guided by eight semantic domains from Monroe's Dictionary Development Program,
providing a structured framework for word collection. Data gathering utilizes Newell's Word-
List Elicitation Approach and narratives or stories shared by the informants. The outcome of this
lexicographic investigation is the identification of 312 lexical entries, all of which are unique
Tagalog words spoken specifically in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. The presence of these distinct
words can be attributed to various factors, including the geographical characteristics of the area,
the local flora and fauna, cultural beliefs related to supernatural beings, and descriptions of
people's appearance, behavior, and personality.

Climate and Weather Patterns

The research paper, authored by Peras et al. (2017), conducts a qualitative assessment of
the impacts of climate variability and extremes on local communities within the Pantabangan-
Carranglan Watershed, situated in Northern Philippines. The study also investigates the
effectiveness of local adaptation practices in mitigating these adverse impacts, drawing insights
from the experiences and perceptions of the local community.

The findings indicate that severe typhoons, droughts linked to El Niño, and delayed onset
of the rainy season tend to have more detrimental effects on a significant number of farmers
when compared to other climate-related stressors. Furthermore, the impacts vary across different
socio-economic groups, with impoverished farmers experiencing the most severe consequences,
rendering them more vulnerable. Adaptation practices and their effectiveness also demonstrate
variations based on socio-economic status and geographic location. Although various local
adaptation strategies exist, they are often constrained or inadequate in reducing adverse impacts,
especially among the economically disadvantaged sectors of the community.

The research underscores the significance of understanding the differentiated impacts of climate
variability and the varying effectiveness of adaptation practices across socio-economic groups.
This knowledge has implications for future development planning and highlights the need for
further research in the field of adaptation to climate variability and extremes (Peras et al., 2017).

Another research paper by Pulhin et al. (2022) examines the vulnerability of communities
to climate variability and extremes in the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed in the Philippines.
The study emphasizes that vulnerability to climate stressors varies among different
socioeconomic groups. This variation depends on factors such as access to production resources,
options to reside in less vulnerable areas, and the effectiveness of coping mechanisms and
adaptation strategies. Additionally, the broader societal, policy, and institutional contexts can
exacerbate the adverse impacts of climate change and further compound vulnerability among
certain groups. The paper suggests that a comprehensive understanding of vulnerability should
consider multiple stressors at both micro and macro levels, including climate and non-climatic
factors. The study advocates for bottom-up assessments and planning to address vulnerability
and enhance adaptive livelihoods at the local level. It underscores the importance of participatory
action and research involving various stakeholders, particularly local communities, to minimize
vulnerability among the poor and strengthen adaptive capacity. Regarding policy and
development programs, the paper recommends empowering local communities to expand their
range of adaptation strategies rather than relying solely on external support. Additionally, it
highlights the need to address structural causes of vulnerability, such as poverty, inequity,
institutional barriers, and economic constraints to development.

Tourism Infrastructure and Development

In the study titled "Effects of Infrastructure Development Projects to Travel Activities of

Farm Families in the Second District of Nueva Ecija, Philippines," conducted by Vana et al.
(2021), the authors aimed to assess the impact of infrastructure development projects on the
travel activities of farm families in the second district of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. The research
followed a descriptive-quantitative correlation design involving three key informants and 90
heads of farm families as respondents. Data was collected through a survey questionnaire (Vana
et al., 2021).

The study revealed that most respondents were at the prime working age, with a mean
age of 51.69 years. Additionally, most households (95.70%) were headed by male farmers who
relied solely on farming as their source of income. Concrete roads were constructed in the area
between 2013 and 2018. After the construction of these roads, there was a reduction in both the
frequency and time of travel for the respondents when going to the market and other places.
However, there was a significant increase in travel costs before and after the infrastructure
development. The primary modes of transportation for the farm families were tricycles and
motorcycles, and they engaged in travel to other barangays (administrative regions) on a weekly
basis (Vana et al., 2021).

This research provides insights into the impact of infrastructure development on the
travel patterns and costs of farm families in the specified district, highlighting changes in travel
behavior and its implications (Vana et al., 2021).

Human Settlement and Population Distribution

According to Small, C., & Nicholls, R. J. (2003), the authors discuss recent
advancements in mapping global population distribution. They utilize the updated Gridded
Population of the World (GPW2) population distribution estimate for 1990, along with lighted
settlement imagery, a global digital elevation model (DEM), and a high-resolution vector
coastline to create bivariate distributions of population, lighted settlements, and land area based
on elevation and coastal proximity. The study reveals that the near-coastal population, residing
within 100 km of a shoreline and 100 m of sea level, was estimated to be approximately $1.2 \
times 10^9$ people, with population densities nearly three times higher than the global average
density. Interestingly, the average population density diminishes more rapidly with elevation
than with distance from the coast, while the opposite trend is observed for lighted settlements.
Lighted settlements are concentrated within 5 km of coastlines worldwide, whereas average
population densities are higher at elevations below 20 m across the 100 km width of the near-
coastal zone. Moreover, the study highlights that most of the near-coastal population resides in
relatively densely-populated rural areas and small to medium cities rather than in large cities.
The paper emphasizes the need for various improvements in defining a better baseline and
scenarios for policy analysis, prioritizing enhancing the resolution of the underlying population
data.
Lasco, R.D., Pulhin, F.B., Cruz, R.V.O., Pulhin, J.M., & Roy, S.S.N. (2020). Carbon Budgets Of
Terrestrial Ecosystems in the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed. AIACC Working Paper
No.10. Retrieved from
https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/51680567/
Carbon_Budgets_Of_Terrestrial_Ecosystems20170207-3921-149dhoz-libre.pdf?
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Gojo Cruz, P. H. P., Afuang, L. E., Gonzalez, J. C. T., & Gruezo, W. S. M. (2018). Amphibians
and Reptiles of Luzon Island, Philippines: The Herpetofauna of Pantabangan-Carranglan
Watershed, Nueva Ecija Province, Caraballo Mountain Range. Asian Herpetological Research,
9(4), 201–223.
DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.1800501

Ubaldo, E. F., & Avila, D. M. (2018). A Lexicographic Study of Distinct Tagalog Words Spoken
in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines.
https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/56754807/
Proceedings_of_the_10th_International_Co-libre.pdf?1528451850=&response-content-
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Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA#page=57

Peras, R. J. J., Pulhin, J. M., Lasco, R. D., Cruz, R. V. O., & Pulhin, F. B. (2017). Climate
Variability and Extremes in the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, Philippines: Assessment of
Impacts and Adaptation Practices.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rodel-Lasco/publication/
298872478_Climate_Variability_and_Extremes_in_the_Pantabangan-
Carranglan_Watershed_Philippines_Assessment_of_Impacts_and_Adaptation_Practices/links/
5760f96a08ae2b8d20eb6a4f/Climate-Variability-and-Extremes-in-the-Pantabangan-Carranglan-
Watershed-Philippines-Assessment-of-Impacts-and-Adaptation-Practices.pdf?_sg
%5B0%5D=started_experiment_milestone&origin=journalDetail&_rtd=e30%3D
Vana, J., Vargas, D., Vallejo, C. A., Rafael, P., Hail, P., & Dollente, J. (2021). Effects of
Infrastructure Development Projects to Travel Activities of Farm Families in the Second District
of Nueva Ecija, Philippines.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3828879

Small, C., & Nicholls, R. J. (2017). A Global Analysis of Human Settlement in Coastal Zones.
Journal of Coastal Research, 19(3), 584-599.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4299200