The UST Research and Endowment Foundation Inc. (REFI) won a P16.5 million grant recently to conduct an action research project on environmental conservation and ecotourism in Siquijor province.
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.
