The University of the Philippines Los Baños – Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (UPLB-INREM) actively participated in activities focused on climate information services held at the Acacia Hotel Davao from 23 to 25 July 2024.
On July 23, UPLB-INREM Chair Dr. Juan M. Pulhin led a breakout session during the “Climate Information Services in Health and Agriculture Research: The Mindanao Perspective” conference. This session featured presentations from experts representing Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin), Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi (MSU Tawi-Tawi), and other institutions. Topics discussed included ocean acidification, coral bleaching in Davao Gulf, biodiversity in Tawi-Tawi, agricultural challenges in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, and drought preparedness in Mindanao.
Following the breakout sessions, a joint plenary session and open forum, moderated by SSCIS Chief Advisor Jimmy Loro, provided transdisciplinary takeaways for CIS in health and agriculture in Mindanao. Dr. Pulhin, along with Dr. Doris Montecastro of AdDU, Dr. Richard Muallil of MSU Tawi-Tawi, Dr. Vinna Crisostomo of UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UPM NIH), as well as Dr. Aleyla de Cadiz and Professor Cleto Nañola, Jr. of UPMin, participated in the discussion.
Panel members emphasized the need for increased investments in climate change, health, and agriculture and stressed the importance of integrating scientific research with local knowledge to enhance climate information services.
Dr. Pulhin highlighted, “We need a type of climate information and services that is informed by science and driven by the needs of the stakeholders.” This focus was further explored on July 24, when he presented details on forming a Community of Practice (CoP) in Isabela Province. He discussed the process of establishing the CoP, the initial results of the capacity needs assessment for climate information services for farmers, and future activities of the project “Modelling CIS Application in Agriculture and Fisheries Sector through Tripartite Collaboration (SUC-NGA-LGU) in Northern Luzon, Philippines.”
The conference also included presentations from other agencies such as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Region XI, and the Department of Agriculture Climate Resilient Agriculture Office (DA-CRAO). Farmer cooperatives in Mindanao shared their reflections on climate change, while Kennemer Foods provided insights from the business sector.
Following the two-day conference, UPLB-INREM also participated in the South-South Collaboration on Climate Information Services (SSCIS) Midyear Review on July 25, which provided a platform for discussing progress, sharing insights, and fostering collaborations among key agencies such as UPLB-INREM, UPM-NIH, DA-CRAO, Climate Change Commission (CCC), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
During the review, Vice Chairperson and Executive Director of CCC Secretary Robert E.A. Borje highlighted the importance of fostering a transdisciplinary approach and collaboration between the government and academe in ramping up efforts for climate action in the Philippines.
“Strategically sharing climate information services from both the government and academic institutions, and collaborating with their relevant stakeholders, is vital to enhancing this nation’s climate resilience,” he said.
In connection with the project, Sec. Borje emphasized the need for simplified, localized, and actionable climate information that local government units, barangay leaders, the private sector, and the public can easily understand and apply.
The three-day event on climate information services is part of the initiative “Towards a South-South Collaboration on Climate Information and Services: Building a Knowledge Exchange and Learning Platform for the Philippines and the Climate Vulnerable Forum” (SSCIS) of GIZ. Dr. Pulhin, Dr. Maricel Villamayor, and Ms. Marielle Baliwag represented UPLB-INREM at the three-day event. (Marielle Baliwag, Ma. Louiella Rose Catudio, Aileen Peria)