The University of the Philippines Visayas’ Capacity Building, Policy Review, and Innovative Legislation toward Coastline Protection and Development for a Sustainable Future (UPV-CPD) Program held its Luzon regional Stakeholders’ Dialogue last May 30, 2024 at the University Hotel, UP Diliman.
Dr. Clement Camposano, Chancellor of UP Visayas, opened the activity with a welcome message emphasizing the importance of understanding the country’s geographical aspects in facilitating communication among culturally diverse communities. He also reiterated how this dialogue aims to address the existing problem of fragmentation in national and local government units (LGUs) and academic institutions by engaging various stakeholders to develop a more holistic, cohesive, and integral approach to coastline and environmental protection.
Engr. Ramer P. Bautista, Program Leader, presented the rationale and objectives of the program. The dialogue primarily aims to establish and strengthen partnerships by convening various stakeholders from national and local government agencies, academic institutions, and private and non-governmental organizations in identifying and addressing gaps, issues, and concerns related to coastline protection and sustainable development. He also emphasized that this will be the third leg of the regional stakeholders’ dialogue after the Visayas and Mindanao leg conducted last February and April, respectively. A National Stakeholders’ Dialogue, which is set to happen sometime in July, will wrap up this series of activities and consultations.
Representatives from various sectors presented their respective coastline protection and development initiatives. Mr. Arnold Battung of DENR 2, Dr. Emma Ballad of BFAR 2, and LTJG Gerna Rogena Sondia of PCG- Southern Tagalog made up the National Government Agencies (NGAs) Cluster. This was followed by presentations from the Academe Cluster composed of Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog of Mariano Marcos State University, Dr. Canesio Predo of UPLB-Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (UPLB-INREM), and Prof. Ronnel Dioneda, Sr. of Bicol University. An open forum was conducted after each cluster presentation where Dr. Johannes Magpusao and Dr. Farisal Bagsit served as Moderators for the NGA and Academe Clusters, respectively.
The afternoon session was opened by presentations from the Local Government Units (LGUs) Cluster composed of Engr. Marc Joseph Solis of Oriental Mindoro, and Mr. Marwin Banan of Cagayan, followed by the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Cluster made up of Mr. Roy Dabuit, IPO Chairman of Nurunutan yang Tagbanua Calamian tung Calawit may Quezon (NTCQ), Atty. Apolonio Anota Jr. of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planner, Inc. (PIEP), and Atty. Robert Chan of the Palawan NGO Network, Inc. (PNNI). Dr. Joemel Sumbing and Prof. Josephine Firmase led and moderated the open forums for the LGU and CSO Clusters, respectively.
Other participants include Prof. Shirly Serrano (Central Luzon State University), Dr. Irene Andaya-De Vera (Pangasinan State University), Prof. Raul Burce (Partido State University), Dr. Miguel Enrique Azcuna (Batangas State University), Mr. Ruelie Rapsing (PLGU-Cagayan), Ms. Jessa Marie Caabay and Mr. Reynor Aquino (C3 Philippines), and Ms. Kimberly Mamburam (Sulubaai Environmental Foundation).
Prof. Jessica Dator-Bercilla, Program Consultant, provided the synthesis of the presentations, while Prof. Pepito Fernandez Jr., Project Development Assistant, gave the closing remarks. Ms. Ellaine Dela Cruz, Project Staff and Faculty of College of Management, hosted the dialogue.
