The UPLB Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (UPLB-INREM), together with the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI), held a strategic planning workshop on Aug. 22-23, 2023 at Hotel Kimberly in Tagaytay City to map out its 10-year indicative plan and to craft strategic plans for the Center’s four programs. 

The workshop is a crucial milestone in the history of UPLB-INREM, having been recently institutionalized as an affiliate hub of UPRI by the UP Board of Regents at its 1379th meeting last April 3, 2023.

UPLB Chancellor Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. delivered an inspiring message to motivate the participants of the two-day workshop. He lauded INREM’s achievement in mainstreaming itself in policy studies on resource management; and UPRI for the support and partnership it provided.

Also present during the event was Dr. Nathaniel C. Bantayan, vice chancellor for research and extension, who highlighted the critical role of UPLB-INREM in attaining UP System’s aim for environmental sustainability and in accomplishing its R&D agenda. 

For his part, Dean Marlo D. Mendoza of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR) emphasized the center’s position in implementing and sustaining programs on the ground. 

UPLB-INREM Co-chair Michelle Grace V. Paraso and UPRI Executive Director Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay wholeheartedly welcomed the representatives of both institutions during the opening session of the workshop. 

The two-day workshop aimed to forge a path forward for UPLB-INREM as an affiliate hub of the UPRI; identify areas of complementation between the plans of UPLB, UPLB-INREM, and UPRI; and create a strategic plan for UPLB-INREM and its four programs in the next ten years. 

The workshop included presentations from Dr. Juan M. Pulhin for the side of UPLB-INREM. For UPRI, presentations were given by Dr. Lagmay, Director Genaro A. Cuaresma of the Institution Building Division, Director Glecy C. Atienza of the Research and Creative Work Division, Director Ruben Gamala of the Education Division, and Director Likha Minimo of the Knowledge Sharing Division. Joy Santiago, Jerico Mendoza, Dennis de la Torre, Richard Ybañez, and Jose Abraham Ongkiko, chief science research specialists of UPRI also gave presentations during the workshop. 

The presentations and the indicative plan formed the backbone for which the strategic plans of the four (4) UPLB-INREM programs were drafted. These programs were included in the approved organizational structure of the center and were designed to help achieve its vision of being a world-renowned center of excellence for integrated natural resources and environment management. 

The following discussions by UPRI’s division representatives also took place: Collaborative RDE for Ecosystem-based Resilience by Dr. Pulhin; Public Education and Capacity Building by Rosario V. Tatlonghari; Policy and Institutional Reforms by Dr. Asa Jose U. Sajise; and Monitoring and Evaluation Program for Collaborative RDE for Ecosystem-based Resilience by Dr. Paraso. 

The breakout sessions were documented by UPLB-INREM technical staff Farah Sevilla, Adrian Pablo Sasi, Christian Ray Buendia, Kyle Vincent Singson, Joylyn Bon Yu, Frances Claire Galano, and Marielle Baliwag.

The Collaborative RDE Program focused on demonstrating INREM from theory to practice, implementing projects on natural resources management and environmental protection, and spatial data handling, processing, and analysis. 

The Public Education and Capacity Building Program aims to enhance the understanding of practitioners and project implementers of INREM through awareness raising, information dissemination, dialogue, training, seminars, and workshops.

The Policy and Institutional Reforms Program will enhance the understanding of policymakers and facilitate policy reforms on INREM through engagement with different levels of government.

Lastly, the Monitoring and Evaluation Program will develop tools to be used on all INREM programs implemented by the Center to gauge the progress and effectiveness of INREM on the ground. 

Dr. Pulhin and Dean Mendoza discussed the ways forward for UPLB-INREM and how the strategic plans can be operationalized. All four institutions represented in the workshop – UPLB through Vice Chancellor Bantayan, UPLB-INREM through Chair Pulhin, UPLB-CFNR through Dean Mendoza, and UPRI through Director Cuaresma – expressed their commitment to ensure its full implementation and bring the center to greater heights.

Professor Emerita Josefina T. Dizon provided an insightful recap of the presentations made on Day 1 of the workshop, while Dr. Paraso provided a synthesis of the breakout sessions and the path forward for the center.

Insightful discussions were made possible through the participation of the following faculty members who make up the center’s technical working group: Dr. Wilfredo M. Carandang, Dr. Dixon T. Gevaña, Dr. Cristino L. Tiburan, Jr., Dr. Florencia B. Pulhin, Jan Joseph V. Dida, Professor Emerita Virginia C. Cuevas, Dr. Damasa M. Macandog, Danilo J. Mercado, Dr. Zenaida C. Sumalde, Dr. Bella C. Cruzana, Dr. Roger A. Luyun, Jr., Dr. Ricardo M. Sandalo, Dr. Edgar M. Reyes, Jr., and Dr. Hildie Maria E. Nacorda.

The following also played important roles in the workshop: Kenneh Suarez, Hazel Victoriano, Anjanette Mariano, Mary-Ann Cabansag of UPRI; Jemo Agudo of OVCRE; and Magnafin Galang, Gershey Evanglista, and Benrooz Fernandez of UPLB-INREM. 
UPLB-INREM is currently preparing to hold the 4th International Conference on Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (INREM 2023) on Nov. 21-23. Details regarding INREM 2023 can be found on its Facebook page and website. (Kyle Vincent R. Singson, Christian Ray C. Buendia of-UPLB-INREM)