On September 12, 2024, the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) represented by Education Director Ruben Gamala, Research and Creative Works Chief Science Research Specialist Dennis De La Torre, NOAH Hazard Assessment Team Supervising Science Research Specialist Audrei Ybañez, and REPs participated in UP Los Baños INREM’s advocacy launch for the institutionalization of Payment for Water Ecosystem Service (P-WES) at the Philippine International Convention Center. Joining them were from both the private and public sectors including that of DOST-PCAARRD, DENR-RBCO, the House of Representatives, Maynilad, and many more. As part of UPLB-INREM’s continued efforts to promote ecosystem-based resilience and sustainable development, the main objective of the event was to gain support and awareness from key stakeholders regarding the national significance of P-WES and related institutional initiatives.
Image 1: Education Director Ruben Gamala provides a message on behalf of the UP Resilience Institute
The event began with a video message from DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora, Ph.D welcoming the attendees and highlighting the importance of collaboration between the different stakeholders in the successful implementation of P-WES. UPLB-INREM Director John Pulhin, Ph.D continued these sentiments in his opening remarks by emphasizing their institution’s role as a resilience hub of UPRI focusing on environmental management. Following this UPLB Dean of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources Marlo Mendoza, MM shared the commitment of UPLB in continuing these initiatives. Education Director Ruben Gamala shared with the audience the UP Resilience Institute’s support of P-WES along with its continuous role in DRRM and sustainability. DENR-RBCO Executive Director Sevillo David, Jr., Ph.D similarly shared DENR’s backing in line with its mandate of conservation and management of the country’s natural resources. Finally, a final keynote address was provided by Hon. Loren Legarda through a video message expressing her full support for these advocacies.
Image 2: From left to right – (1) Prof. Canesio Predo, Ph.D, (2) P-WES Advocacy Project Leader Prof. Asa Sajise, Ph.D., (3) UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources Dean Marlo D. Mendoza, MM., (4) UPLB-INREM Director Prof. Juan Pulhin, Ph.D, (5) Atty. Fritzielyn Palmiery, and (6) Asst. Prof. Rosario Tatlonghari, Ph.D conducting an open forum
After these initial messages, Project leader Prof. asa Sajise, Ph.D and Prof. Canesio Predo, Ph.D shared the status and results of their P-WES projects. This was followed by Dean Mendoza going into detail regarding the current prospects and constraints of P-WES. The program also included presentations of the existing institutional initiatives for P-WES namely the (1) DENR DAO and PES Tool Kit presented by Executive Director Sevillo David Jr., Ph.D and the (2) key points for the proposed National P-WES Policy and Protocol presented by Atty. Fritzielyn Q. Palmiery. The speakers were then invited to open forums wherein both live and zoom participants asked questions and provided their own suggestions on the service. The program ended with Prof. Asa Sajise, Ph.D providing a final synthesis highlighting the problems in existing water services and the ways forward. Prof. Sajise concluded this final talk by reemphasizing the need to spread awareness regarding P-WES and institutionalization of frameworks which compensate providers of essential water-related ecosystem services.
Image 3: Group photo of participants for the UPLB-INREM’s
Advocacy Launch for the Institutionalization of P-WES
Prepared by:
Franklin Joshua Gali
Junior Project Assistant