UST REFI was awarded the grant by the Gerry Roxas Foundation (GRF) and the Philippine office of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the project titled 鈥淪iquijor Island Conservation and Restoration: Toward a Regenerative Ecotourism Destination鈥�.

This action research project was among 11 recipients of grants from GRF鈥檚 program called INSPIRE or Investing in Sustainable Partnerships for Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystems.

Looking at both seascapes and landscapes, the project aims to ensure that the island鈥檚 natural ecosystems 鈥渨ill be conserved and restored, leading to a sustainable and regenerative Siquijor Island鈥�. For 2.5 years, this action research project hopes to aid Siquijor鈥檚 collaborative governance efforts on environmental protection, environmental conservation education, and achieving community-based sustainable livelihood.

The project seeks to empower Siquijor鈥檚 provincial and municipal governments to regulate the use of trees and medicinal plants, curb illegal and unregulated fishing activities, encourage tourism development, reduce solid and liquid wastes, and control freshwater consumption. These efforts contribute to the vision of making Siquijor a 鈥渮ero-waste island鈥�.

A team from REFI will spearhead the project, led by Executive Director Fr. Maximo Gatela, O.P. and Technical Team Leader Dr. Moises Norman Garcia of the College of Science. Team members include Dr. Maria Rosario Virginia Cobar-Garcia (Science), Dr. Arlen Ancheta and Dr. Alain Jomarie Santos (both from the Faculty of Arts and Letters), as well as Asst. Prof. Arnold Distor and Asst. Prof. Racquel Layco (Science).

Dr. Ancheta, Dr. Cobar-Garcia, Dr. Garcia, and Asst. Prof. Layco had done studies on the zero-waste island concept, covering solid waste management, energy efficiency, food and water, and sustainable use of natural resources. These previous studies were conducted for a global advocacy group, the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), under the auspices of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education (or RCSSED, UST鈥檚 social sciences research arm).

According to team leader Dr. Moises Norman Garcia, the previous studies and the current INSPIRE-funded project will capitalize on 鈥渆nvironmental advocacy to counter climate change and [take inspiration from] Pope Francis鈥檚 encyclical Laudato S铆.鈥�

This INSPIRE-funded project contributes to climate change action, says this full professor of Biological Sciences, by directly aligning the project to some of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

UST REFI formalized its receipt of the INSPIRE grants during a May 22 grants awarding ceremony at the National Museum of Natural History, with the US Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Mary Kay L. Carlson, gracing the event.

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The opening remarks, delivered by Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation , was followed by the Panel Session 1: Institutionalization of Community Engagement/Service-Learning which was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Marielyn C. Quintana. Research presenters were SIMBAHAYAN Director , SIMBAHAYAN Assistant Director , and 鈥� all of whom are part of the UST Community-Engaged Studies Research Interest Group (RIG), together with Asst. Prof. Philip Arnold Tua帽o of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).

For Panel Session 2: Community Engagement/Service-Learning and Student Formation, the presentors included: Asst. Prof. Leland Joseph dela Cruz from ADMU, Dr. Marian Emae Grace Alvarez from the UST , and Assoc. Prof. Jose Ricarte Origenes from the UST SIMBAHAYAN-National Service Training Program (NSTP).

The moderator for the afternoon session, Dr. Abernir, focused on Community Engagement/Service-Learning Intervention and Impact. Ms. Enha Erika Brondo, ADMU-NSTP Formator and Mr. George Omer Quitoriano, faculty member of ADMU showcased their studies together with Engr. Alexie Ballon from the Institute of Information and Computing Sciences; Mitzico Bibal, graduating student of ; Jelynna Alano, and Jowillyn Capacite, students from . The last session which awakened the interest of students on Community Engagement/Service Learning and Disaster Resilience was facilitated by Asst. Prof. Alipao.

Assoc. Prof. Quintana from , Mr. Adrian Romero of UST NSTP, Ms. Imelda Oponda of Kasiglahan Village, Asst. Prof. Alain Jomari Santos of UST , Marie Jane Turla, and Britany Alaine Lopez from College of Nursing students were the last presenters.

Abenir concluded the conference by not just mentioning the importance of research that is for the people and by the people, but also by emphasizing that the Bartolome de las Casas Research Conference serves as an avenue for the conference participants to listen and understand the research studies and interventions of different colleges guided by the discipline of community development. He also invited everyone to submit their research papers for the upcoming Kamanlalakbay portion of its program, which is a presentation of studies regarding partner communities of the University.

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