The School of Environmental Science and Management-University of the Philippines Los Baños (SESAM-UPLB) thru the Continuing Education and Training Division (CETD) in partnership with the Philippine Network of Educators on Environment (PNEE) conducted a short online course on Ecosystems Valuation (EV) batch 4, last April 11-12, 2023 via Zoom.

The EV training aims to train and capacitate attendees from various institutions in understanding and analyzing the flow and trend on ecosystems services; assist concerned stakeholders to have an understanding on how to quantify and value ecosystem services as these can be the basis in improving environmental management implement; and train and capacitate attendees in conducting a more comprehensive and holistic assessment for the quantification and valuation of ecosystem services for improved decision making.

During the opening program, Dr. Ramon M. Docto, President of PNEE and Palawan State University told the EV participants as stewards of nature, they have a big responsibility. “I am optimistic that thru our collective efforts, we can protect, conserve and responsibly use our environment”, Dr. Docto said. 

For his part Dr. Rico C. Ancog, Dean of SESAM, said the learnings of the training will be focused on what are the real causes of environmental problems. “The speakers will emphasize that the major cause is our failure of appreciating the true value of the environment; and there is science, theories and concepts underpinning this”, said Dr. Ancog. 

Dr. Jose V. Camacho congratulated SESAM-CETD for another batch of EV training. “Nature is a great provider, it gives us nourishment and resources to fulfill our physical, mental and economic needs such as food, shelter, clothing is all provided for free by the natural environment and the ecosystem around us, but sadly, human driven degradation show us that we have collectively undervalued our ecosystems”, Chancellor Camacho stressed.

Speakers include Dr. Mercedita A. Sombilla, Undersecretary for policy, planning and regulations of the Department of Agriculture. Dr. Sombilla discussed the introduction to basic concepts on the economics of natural resources.

Ms. Ma. Christina G. Corales, Program Specialist of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture lectured on the introduction to STATA. Meanwhile, Dr. Maritess M. TIonco, Professor, School of Economics, De La Salle University, presented an overview of cost-benefit analysis.

UPLB Professors Paul Joseph B. Ramirez of College of Economics and Management (CEM) and Dr. Canesio D.Predo of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR), as well as Dr. Ancog, presented different methodologies of economic assessment. During day three, participants had a workshop on crafting economic valuation studies for environmental management. The participants were divided into three groups and presented their outputs. Batch 4 of EV training course had 19 participants with various fields of specializations from local government units, academe, national government agencies, non-government organizations and private organizations.