School officials and representatives from Diliman Educational Corporation visited the UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) last 6 March 2023 for possible collaborative and partnership activities. 

Dean Rico C. Ancog together with SESAM faculty members, Dr. Maria Victoria O. Espaldon, Dr. Danesto B. Anacio, Dr. Decibel V. Faustino-Eslava, and Dr. Antonio P. Contreras welcomed the delegation, which was led by its President and CEO, and a former senator of the Republic of the Philippines, Hon. Anna Dominique “Nikki” Marquez-Lim Coseteng.

Former UPLB Chancellor, Dr. Luis Rey Velasco who linked Hon. Coseteng’s delegation to SESAM was also present in the meeting. Dean Ancog welcomed the delegation and provided a brief orientation about SESAM. Former Senator Coseteng then introduced her team and discussed the purpose of their visit. The meeting revolved around the exploration of possible collaboration and partnership for research and extension in line with the Diliman Education Corporation’s target to create a nature-based learning laboratory for their students. 

“Our goal is to use the learning laboratory for the young students to appreciate and to have an environment-oriented mindset. We envisioned that this project will be able to demonstrate environmental concepts and principles through a right learning environment that is participatory and experiential”, explained by Former Senator Coseteng. 

Hon. Coseteng also mentioned a property in Teresa, Rizal as a potential site for the proposed learning laboratory. Dr. Eslava, Dr. Espaldon, and Dr. Contreras shared preliminary suggestions and options for the learning laboratory. 

Other potential sites that Hon. Coseteng mentioned are inside the School’ s vicinity in Diliman, Quezon City and a property in Calauan, Laguna. The delegation also invited SESAM to visit the proposed potential sites in Diliman and in Teresa, Rizal. According to Dean Ancog, this site visit will be helpful to the team to plan accordingly, based on the vision presented by former senator Coseteng. 

“After we visit the site, we might have better and concrete options to proceed with this collaboration and reach a mutual agreement,” added Dean Ancog. 

Following this request, SESAM team composed of Dr. Danesto B. Anacio, Dr. Antonio P. Contreras, Dr. Maria Victoria O. Espaldon, Dr. Juan Miguel R. Guotana, and Ms. Maria Regina V. Regalado visited the two sites for the initial assessments and baselining last 17 March 2023.