ClimateCafe Challenge Metro Cebu Rivers The Philippines (March 23 2021)

The River Scan Challenge 2021 now on its fourth year run is jointly organized and coordinated by the
University of San Carlos, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, and
Cebu Leads Foundation Inc This event is conducted in partnership with Metro Cebu local government units
The subjects of the River Scan Challenge for this year will be the following rivers Mahiga River, Butuanon River,
Guadalupe River, and Bulacao River These rivers receive all kinds of wastes untreated wastewater and solid
wastes from the urbanized environment These rivers are also crucial hydrologic elements that help drain
floodwaters in the highly urbanized cities of Metro Cebu

The purpose of the River Scan Challenge is to highlight the technical dimensions of doable strategies for the
rehabilitation of aforementioned rivers These include the quantity and quality aspects of the river water, the
presence of plastic waste, understanding of the socio cultural and socio economic dimensions of the local
residents along the rivers as well as the enabling policies

Twelve 12 mixed teams of Dutch and Filipino students will work together in a 2 week challenge to determine
the best solution to improve the conditions of the rivers In the past three river challenges, the different groups
conducted site visits, field measurements, data collection, laboratory tests, expert consultations, group
discussions and interviews for them to formulate practical and innovative strategies This year, due to the
COVID 19 pandemic, all data gathering will be conducted online.

THe program