UP Tacloban’s Leyte Samar Heritage Center (LSHC) has launched Hisgut Kalibungan, a seven-part monthly online discussion series on urgent environmental issues and concerns in Eastern Visayas and beyond. The series aims to assist in articulating informed policy initiatives for environmental conservation, management, and sustainable development in Region 8 by fostering dialogue and cooperation among concerned institutions and communities.
Huruhisgutay 1, the first episode in the series, focused on “Setting the Directions for Environmental Conservation in Eastern Visayas.” Professor Margarita T. de la Cruz, Executive Director of Guiuan Development Foundation, Inc., was the lead discussant in this episode which aired on 27 November 2020. She presented a situationer on environmental conservation in Eastern Visayas. [Watch the full episode and download the policy brief here - https://tac.upv.edu.ph/hisgut-kalibungan/huruhisgutay-1/]
Huruhisgutay 2, which aired on 29 January 2021, was on Pangisdaan ha Sinirangan Bisayas (Fisheries Production in Eastern Visayas). The lead discussant was Dr. Nancy A. Dayap, who served as Manager of the Regional Fish Health Laboratory of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) - Regional 8, focal person on Red Tide in Region 8, and specialist in Environmental Impact Assessment for BFAR’s Mariculture Zones/Parks Project. [Watch the full episode here -- https://tac.upv.edu.ph/hisgut-kalibungan/huruhisgutay-2/]
Huruhisgutay 3, on Climate Proofing and Resilience, aired on 26 March 2021 with Dr. Eulito V. Casas, Jr., chairperson of UP Tacloban’s Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, as lead discussant. The discussion yielded nine policy recommendations for local government units to build climate-resilient communities and ecosystems. [Watch the full episode here - https://tac.upv.edu.ph/hisgut-kalibungan/huruhisgutay-3/]
Huruhisgutay 4, which aired on 30 April 2021, tackled issues and problems in wildlife conservation and management in Region 8 and beyond. Ms. Lisa J. Paguntalan, Executive Director of the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc, was the lead discussant. [Watch the full episode here - https://tac.upv.edu.ph/hisgut-kalibungan/huruhisgutay-4/]
Huruhisgutay 5, on Mineral Resources Management and Mining in Eastern Visayas, which aired on 25 June 2021 with Engr. Leo Van V. Juguan, retired Regional Director of the Mines and GeosciencesBureau Regional Office 8, led the discussion. The said episode outlined recommendations for the promotion and implementation of responsible mining in Region 8 and beyond. [Watch the full episode here - https://tac.upv.edu.ph/hisgut-kalibungan/huruhisgutay-5/]
Meanwhile, Huruhisgutay 6: Solid Waste Management in Eastern Visayas was aired last 30 July 2021, where Engr. Joselito Vasquez, the Visayas Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition, served as the lead discussant. In this episode, the panelists discussed and analyzed the challenges and opportunities in promoting and enhancing the implementation of proper solid waste management in Eastern Visayas and beyond. [Watch the full episode here - https://tac.upv.edu.ph/hisgut-kalibungan/huruhisgutay-6/]
Huruhisgutay 7: Sustainable Tourism in Eastern Visayas, the final episode in the Hisgut Kalibungan series, aired last 27 August 2021 with Ms. Eylla Laire M. Guiterrez, Research Manager of the Asian Institute of Management’s Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism, as lead discussant. The said episode set out recommendations for the promotion and implementation of responsible tourism in Region 8 and beyond. [Watch the full episode here - https://tac.upv.edu.ph/hisgut-kalibungan/huruhisgutay-7/]
Through this initiative, UP Tacloban hopes to contribute to the collective effort of saving the world from irreversible ecological destruction by raising awareness and developing a critical understanding of urgent environmental issues and concerns.
For more information about Hisgut Kalibungan and other announcements, like and follow the UPVTC Leyte Samar Heritage Center Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/upvtc.lshc/) and subscribe to the Center’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUm46WAEyzl6yznoSzBxO8A) or visit the project webpage at https://tac.upv.edu.ph/hisgut-kalibungan
