The paper, “Geohazards, Tropical Cyclones and Disaster Risk Management in the Philippines: Adaptation in a Changing Climate Regime”, is recognized as Outstanding Scientific Paper for 2018 by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST Phil). The article is a comprehensive presentation of the geographic and geologic settings of the Philippines that make it vulnerable to natural hazards; and, learning from the distressing experience of the country due to Typhoon Pharma (Local Name: Pepeng) that hit the northwestern part of Luzon in 2009, the authors recognize the urgency to implement geo-meteorological-related disaster risk management and climate change adaptation measures in order to save lives and properties during extreme climatic events. They consider heightened information, education, and communication campaigns; improved early warning systems; and climate-proofed land use plans as among the adaptation measures. 

To read more about the article, follow the link: http://jesam-uplb.org/article.php?aid=49-geohazards–tropical-cyclones-and-disaster-risk-management-in-the-philippines–adaptation-in-a-changing-climate-regimeor  https://journals.uplb.edu.ph/index.php/JESAM/article/view/966/889

To be conferred with the remarkable award are Dr. Decibel V. Faustino-Eslava, a well-published geologist and currently the Dean and and Associate Professor of the School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños, and co-authors: Dr. Carla B. Dimalanta, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, UP System and Professor, National Institute of Geological Science, University of the Philippines Diliman; Dr. Graciano P. Yumul, Jr. of the Monte Oro Resources and Energy, Inc.; Dr. Nathaniel T. Servando, former director of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration- Department of Science and Technology (PAGASA-DOST), and Dr. Nathaniel A. Cruz, Resident Meteorologist the GMA Network News. The awarding ceremonies will be held on 12 July 2018 at the Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines during the Academy’s 40th Annual Scientific Meeting.

The Journal of Environmental Science and Management (JESAM), now on its 20^thyear, is the publisher of the award-winning paper. It is an international peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly journal of the School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños indexed by Web of Science Clarivate Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters), Sciverse-Scopus, CABI, and ACI. It is also an awardee of the Journal Challenge of the Journal Incentive Program of the Philippine Commission on Higher Education. 

The NAST Annual Outstanding Scientific Papers Award is a recognition of the valuable contributions of Filipino scientists in the advancement of science and technology. It is given to qualified papers evaluated based on the 1) quality of content; 2) contribution to science and technology; 3) clarity of presentation; and 4) thoroughness of documentation. Moreover, it must have been published in any Philippine scientific or technical journal within five years preceding the award.

NAST Phil is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology andis the country’s highest recognition and advisory body in the field of science and technology. It is mandated to recognize and reward exemplary achievements in the aforementioned fields as provided for in Presidential Decree 1003-A.

In 2014, a paper published in JESAM Special Issue No. 1, 2013 titled, “Improving the Validity and Robustness of a Harmful Algal Bloom Model through Genetic Algorithm-based Optimization”, was also awarded the same recognition by NAST Phil. (Cherry Sy-Padilla)