CSU Faculty Attend PATLEEM, Presented Research Papers on Adaptive Capacities of Communities

Ms. Chime M. Garcia, Ms. Meycel C. Amarille, and Ms. Julie Rose D. Apdohan faculty members of the Department of Environmental Science under the College of Forestry and Environmental Science (COFES) attended the 23^rd National Educators’ Conference on Environmental Protection and Management at VIP Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City last November 7-8, 2018. The event was sponsored by the Philippine Association of Tertiary Level Educators on Environmental Management (PATLEEM) together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB).

This year’s theme “Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities” highlights the capability of Filipino people to adjust easily, survive, and thrive given the threats of climate change. The event was graced by Dr. Sabdullah Abubabacar, the regional director of EMB-DENR Region 10 who welcomed and challenged the participants to do research on greenhouse gas emission.

DENR Assistant Secretary for field operations in Visayas Forester Marcial Amaro was one of the plenary speakers who presented detailed inputs on operationalizing sustainable resource management in Boracay Island. The talk centers on the history of Boracay before it became a cesspool and the actions done during the rehabilitation period and the actions that will be taken in the near future. Assistant Secretary Amaro emphasized that the carrying capacity assessment of Boracay was science-based which means that scientific research was conducted to have a realistic number of tourists who can enter the island.

Dr. Gina Itchon, an epidemiologist by profession who works in Northern Mindanao Hospital and a professor at Xavier University at the same time was also a plenary speaker. Dr. Itchon discussed increasing adaptive capacities of vulnerable communities which emphasizes that pollution is now the leading cause of non communicable disease.

Colonel Romeo Brawner the leader of the Joint Task Force Marawi talks on “Increasing resilience of critical infrastructure”. He showed a video on the battle that occurred in Marawi in 2017. He discussed some programs of the government and non-government organizations that helped the people recover from the disaster in Marawi. Governance, economic development and infrastructure development where the pillars of post conflict management but it should also include psycho social healing.

Mr. Dextor S. Lo of Xavier University, another plenary speaker talked about “Mapping our  Home in a Changing Climate” which deals on the importance of flood maps through simulation and delineation which can give the community warnings years before a disaster may occur in certain areas.

The CSU faculty presented their research papers on adaptive capacities of communities. The papers were: Coping with flood: The case of communities near Lake Mainit, Philippines by Chime Mora- Garcia;  Estimating economic value of Masao wetland in Butuan City using productivity and market price ecosystem valuation method by Meycel C. Amarille; and Management effectiveness of Mt. Magdiwata Watershed forest reserve, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, Philippines by Julie Rose D. Apdohan.