1) Southern Luzon shows larger but fewer raindrops compared to neighboring countries.2) Four R(Z) relations were able to reduce radar-retrieved rainfall bias by up to 61%3) R(KDP) performed the best by a huge margin in terms of error statistics

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Two related single-valued landscape fragmentation indices D and F are proposed, based on patch aggregation, shape complexity, and percent of the focal pixels on the landscape, and are computed using Fragstats metrics on a colonization landscape continuously fragmented over 36 years. The same was done for two existing single-valued fragmentation indices, i.e., the Matheron index based solely on normalized unlike joins, and the Normalized Hypsometric Curve (NHMC) index from GUIDOS Toolbox. All were plotted chronologically, and also against percent non-forest (%nf) of the landscape, and the trajectories were compared for behavior. The NHMC index starts high even if deforestation is low, and continues increasing even further as deforestation continues, while the other three indices all start close to zero and increase gradually. F mimics D very closely, and the Matheron index only behaves differently from F and D at the end of the data range. The deviation may be due to patch aggregation, which the Matheron index does not consider. An accepted single-valued fragmentation index computed from Fragstats landscape metrices could allow for cross-study comparisons relating fragmentation with any other attribute on or of the landscape, hopefully advancing the science of fragmentation in landscape ecology as cross-study generalizations would now be possible.

Vegetable harvest in the Philippines are wasted due to spoilage (~42%) posing a challenge to the country’s food security and solid waste management. The study aims to determine current vegetable farming practices and farmer perceptions on the use of cold storage facilities in Benguet Philippines for reducing vegetable waste in the post-handling process system. Specifically, this aims to: identify common high-value crops available and acceptable to farmers for storing in cold storage facilities by developing the actual cropping calendars (planting and harvest schedules) of these high-value crops; quantify waste generated on-farm and during marketing and identify current farmer practices and perceptions on post-harvest handling. Common high value crops for possible cold-storing are green-leafy vegetables since these command high prices when they are available off-season. Waste generated is 7.5% of total produce during harvest while 20-50% is further lost during the marketing. The three main issues of farmers are price, market and the harvesting process. Timely information dissemination on market demands and prevailing vegetable prices, availability and access to storage and cold-storage facilities are necessary to encourage farmers to minimize vegetable waste generated and optimize farmer income.