The School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) participated in the 10th International Conference and Scientific Meeting of the Philippine Network of Educators on the Environment (PNEE) this October 24 to 26, 2017, held at Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), Camiling, Tarlac.
With the theme “Environmental Education for Sustainable Development Innovations and Solutions”, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquaculture and Natural Resources Research and Development-Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST) supports this year’s PNEE conference.
Dr. Andrew E. Tan, President, PNEE and Carlos Hilado State College, Negros Occidental and SESAM alumnus, said he is confident that the speakers for the three-day event will be sharing more information on technological advancement and its sustainability. For his part, Dr. Max Guillermo, President of TAU, also a SESAM alumnus, expressed his gratitude to the PNEE board for selecting TAU as this year’s host.
Hon. Erlan C. Agustin, Mayor, Camiling, Tarlac, welcomed all the guests and he is pleased to have this international conference to held in his town and he hopes that Camiling, Tarlac will also benefit from the technology being developed by state college and universities.
On her behalf, the message of Dr. Decibel F. Eslava, dean of SESAM, was delivered by Dr. Rico C. Ancog, Professor, SESAM. In her message, she encouraged the PNEE as environmental educators to continue to teach us the process of weighing sides through critical thinking. Dr. Ancog is concurrently the Secretary of PNEE and SESAM is the host of the PNEE secretariat.
Among the papers presented by SESAM is the research of Dr. Loucel E. Cui, University Research Associate II, entitled “Knowledge and Training Needs of Filipino Farmers: SARAI TNA Survey Results”. This paper is co-authored with Dr. Eslava, Ms. Rosemarie Laila D. Areglado, Ms. Maria Regina V. Regalado, Dr. Ma. Victoria O. Espaldon and Dr. Yusof A. Sucol. Also presented is the paper entitled “Evaluation of Disaster Mitigation, Preparedness and Response Projects in the Municipalities Under the WFP-DPR Programme in Four Towns in Sorsogon”, authored by Mr. Thaddeus P. Lawas, Ms. Alma Lorelei D. Abejero, Mr. Simplicio Q. Veluz, Ms. Minji Na and Ms. Ailynn A. Gonzales; “Biological Invasion: Concepts and Criteria for Determining Bio-invasiveness of Invasive Alien Species (IAS)” authored by Dr. Leonardo M. Florece, For. Sofia A. Alaira, Ms. Evangeline L. Alcantara and Ms. Ma. Luisa G. Mendoza; “Determining the Solid Waste Diversion and Disposal Requirement for Improved Solid Waste Management of an Agricultural Municipality: the Case of General Nakar, Quezon”, authored by Mr. Ryan Cristil R. Real, Mr. Timothy John A. Pasicolan,, Ms. Clarissa D. Ruzol, Ms. Kathleen Joy O. Soriano, Ms. Chardy Joy B. Ilagan, Ms. Stella Grace P. Aclan and Dr. Ancog; “Enhancing Flood Regulation Potential of a Protected Area Through Buffer Zone Conservation: are Households Willing to Pay for it?” by Dr. Ancog, Ms. Josephine Bo, Ms. Karen Burdeos, Mr. Melchor Deponio, Ms. Aileen Jara, Mr. James Leyte, Mr. Efren Linan, Mr. Junser Magpantay, Mr. Glenn Oca, Ms. Elizabeth Ompad, Ms. Maripres Sarinas and Ms. Armi Torres.
Aside from papers, SESAM faculty and researchers also joined the poster presentations. The poster entitled “ Comparative Analysis and Validation of Five Different Gridded Precipitation Datasets in Modeling Streamflow in Selected Watersheds in Laguna de Bay” by Mr. Jonathan T. Macuroy, Dr. Eslava, Ms. Ann Clarisse SV. Siababa and Dr. Espaldon; “Digital Age and the Rural Farmers in the Philippines”, by Ms. Areglado, Dr. Eslava, Dr. Cui, Ms. Regalado, Dr. Espaldon and Dr. Yusof; “Monitoring Heavy Metal Contamination Using Environmental Magnetic Proxies”, by Mr. Melanio Louie Cunanan, Ms. Siababa, Dr. Eslava, Mr. Macuroy, Dr. Bechaida D. Payot, Mr. Juan Miguel Guotana, Dr. Cui, Dr. Carla B. Dimalanta and Dr. Espaldon; “The Fish that we eat and the Jobus Dye: Know What can Harm us and the Environment”, by Dr. Sucol, Dr. Eslava and Dr. Carmelita M. Rebancos; and “Visioning and Socio-Ecological Systems Assessment Through Community-led Scenario Building for South Bay Communities of Laguna Lake, Province of Laguna, Philippines”, by Dr. Espaldon, Ms. Siababa, Dr. Rebancos, For. Alaira, Mr. Gene Laurence B. Dimasuay and Mr. Celso L. Tatlonghari.
There were 117 papers and 72 posters presented during the conference. As part of the event, the participants will be treated to an island-hopping tour at the Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan on the last day of the conference.
