The overall goal of PHILMARINE-BLI is to identify promising BLI lead compounds from marine sediment-derived Actinomycetes from Tubbataha Reefs stored in the University of San Agustin biobank. We will combine the actinomycete extracts with common beta-lactams and discover combinations with activity against well-characterized, beta-lactam-resistant, Gram-negative pathogens circulating in the Philippines. The PHILMARINE-BLI project will be structured as described below and in the graphical abstract.

Characterization of BLA-inactivation genes of Gram-negative clinical isolates at a tertiary hospital in the Philippines. Different genes that encode for beta-lactamases from unique strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa will be identified. This part of the project will produce an exclusive panel of beta-lactam-resistant, genetically characterized, clinical isolates with Filipino origin.

Primary screen for inhibitory activity of crude extracts from Philippine marine actinomycetes when used in combination with commonly used beta-lactam antibiotics against Gram-negative clinical isolates at a tertiary hospital in the Philippines. These in vitro experiments in bacterial cell culture will select promising crude extracts with inhibitory activity when used in combination therapy (with no antibacterial activity when used alone).

Secondary screen for enzyme-targeted inhibitory activity of BLI-containing actinomycete crude extracts using commercially available purified serine- and metallo-beta-lactamases. These in vitro studies using pure enzymes will test promising crude extracts with inhibitory activities against serine- or metallo-beta-lactamases (or both).

Bioactivity-guided isolation of beta-lactamase inhibitors from the chosen extracts and determination of their enzyme binding via in silico docking and molecular dynamics simulation. This section will provide the identity of BLI lead compounds in the screened extracts, elucidate molecular interactions with serine- or metallo-beta-lactamases, and gain an understanding of possible mechanisms-of-inhibition.

This component project proposal is part of a bigger program proposal, which intends to assess the vulnerability of both limnetic and littoral areas of post-eruption Lake Taal. The two projects that were proposed have a similar framework: (a) look into changes in the lake’s water quality, (b) assess the stability of an important catch fisheries target, (c) determine the community structure of primary consumers that may act serve as an important dietary source for fish communities, (d) and look into the trophic interactions of all elements to provide sound policy recommendations for both littoral and limnetic areas of Lake Taal. On our end, we propose to investigate differences in Biya population characteristics and habits, macroinvertebrate community structure, and coastal water quality and enrichment because of ash deposition.

Assessing the interactions among lake biota is a proven, effective measure and gold standard for lake rehabilitation. Such researches are successfully utilized in providing good recommendations for altered freshwater ecosystems (Lake et al. 2001). However, trophic interactions in lake ecosystems are complex. That is why we need to characterize both benthic and pelagic pathways which undergo different processes but are equally important for understanding the whole-lake perspective (Carpenter & Kitchell 1993, Jeppensen et al. 2005, Vadeboncoeur et al. 2002).

This project aims to update our knowledge on the potential impacts of the January 12, 2020 volcanic eruption of Taal Volcano on an integral component of the Lake Taal ecosystem and its primary food source: the endemic and now endangered freshwater sardine, Sardinella tawilis and the zooplankton community of Lake Taal, particularly its preferred prey – the copepods.

Prior to the January 12, 2020 eruption, our studies have been able to document zooplanktivory (and therefore the preferred prey) in the endemic S.tawilis (Papa et al., 2008), the species composition, and spatio-temporal distribution of zooplankton in open water and fish cage areas in Lake Taal (Papa et al., 2011; Papa and Zafaralla, 2011, Papa et al., 2012a, Papa et al., 2013), the confirmation of the occurrence of an invasive calanoid copepod (Arctodiaptomus dorsalis) in Lake Taal (Papa et al., 2012b), the co-occurrence and morphometrics of two calanoid species in Lake Taal (Papa and Zafaralla, 2011; Papa et al., 2012a; De Leon et al., 2016; Papa et al., 2017; Guinto et al., 2018), an initial attempt to use stable isotopes in confirming the trophic position of another Lake Taal endemic species – Hydrophis semperi (Garcia et al., 2014) and a study on the archived water quality and meteorological data which recommended changes in the monitoring scheme being employed in Lake Taal (Mendoza et al., 2019). Although these publications have improved the current state of scientific knowledge on Lake Taal, the recent declaration of S. tawilis as an endangered species (Santos et al., 2018) and the increased volcanic activity in Taal Volcano starting last January 2020 together with the previously identified anthropogenic influences on the limnology of the lake (aquaculture, excessive nutrient inputs, the alteration of lake littoral zones) all justify a renewed interest to study the zooplanktivory of S. tawilis.

This project aims to enhance the biohydrogen production of PNSB strain using some physiological parameter optimizations, cell immobilization, photobioreactor design, and strain improvement. The physiological improvement may use a response surface methodology to obtain the optimal dosage or condition of each parameter in response to hydrogen yield or productivity. For cell immobilization, common immobilization techniques will be applied to investigate the importance of cell immobilization in hydrogen production of PNSB. From this data, necessary material modification will be made for a better immobilization system. Corresponding improvement of the photobioreactor will also be implemented. In this scheme, an array of light will be placed inside a photobioreactor instead of the usual external lighting source. More importantly, strain modification will be made to further enhance the biological hydrogen production of PNSB. Overexpression of nitrogenase, and/or deletion of hydrogenase and/or polyhydroxyalkanoate-synthase of PNSB may be carried as part of the genetic modification process.

 (See section: Rationale)

See section: Rationale

(See section: Rationale)

This project component will work on the design of each of the membrane distiller set-up using solar energy. Later on, after each component has been successfully fabricated, the integration of each component will follow. Modifications and revisions of the designed is expected vis-à-vis its trial runs. There are three universities and at least one industry that are involved in the conception and integration of the design. An initial design will be presented to the group. Each group will have an assigned component for further research and later on, its fabrication. USC will give the initial design and introduce the SBS machine for the membrane fabrication. XU and USTP will lead in the further research and fabrication of the different components. XU will be tasked for the Thermal insulator / convective reducer and Solar radiation absorber / heat converter. USTP will be tasked for the Membrane-distiller design, heat sink and collection system. COWD and MBDA will give input on the practical design as well as the materials needed for its fabrication. Fabrication of the membranes will be carried out in USC, while integration of the components and its initial runs will be carried out in XU and USTP.

This proposed project will develop a heat map or a hotspot map describing the extent of microplastic contamination in the major aquatic environments in Mindanao. In particular, the sites of interest where the survey will be conducted are the major rivers and bays in Mindanao, such as Butuan Bay, Agusan River, Macajalar Bay (Cagayan de Oro), Cagayan River, Moro Gulf, Liguasan Marsh, Davao Gulf, and Davao River. Microplastic assessment will be done in various samples, fish, sediments, water, and other aquatic microorganisms. Likewise, preliminary identification of microplastics will be done using FT-IR analysis. Also, potential screening of stress biomarkers will be determined. Coordination with the different LGUs will be done as to the conduct of the sample collection, presentation of results, and the development of policy notes.

This project will provide information on the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in long-tailed macaques, local residents (who have been directly or indirectly exposed to macaques and their wastes) and environmental samples, possible cross transmission of zoonotic parasites, and evaluation of different risk factors associated with the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in human-macaque interface. To have substantial knowledge and better understanding on the transmission dynamics of parasites in human-macaque interface are essential in the mitigation of possible zoonotic/anthroponotic transmission of parasitic infection in the area. The results of this project will also contribute to the possible recommendation of policies that will help promote public health protection, reduction of parasitic infection risks to macaques, tourists and local residents and to have sustainable eco-tourism in the study areas. spots. Information generated from this study will also be used to formulate the Vulnerability Index of tourist areas in terms of zoonosis and conflict. 

This project will provide information on the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in long-tailed macaques, local residents (who have been directly or indirectly exposed to macaques and their wastes) and environmental samples, possible cross transmission of zoonotic parasites, and evaluation of different risk factors associated with the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in human-macaque interface. To have substantial knowledge and better understanding on the transmission dynamics of parasites in human-macaque interface are essential in the mitigation of possible zoonotic/anthroponotic transmission of parasitic infection in the area. The results of this project will also contribute to the possible recommendation of policies that will help promote public health protection, reduction of parasitic infection risks to macaques, tourists and local residents and to have sustainable eco-tourism in the study areas. spots. Information generated from this study will also be used to formulate the Vulnerability Index of tourist areas in terms of zoonosis and conflict. 

The project deals with a social approach to gather information on perception of tourists and residents/locals on long-tailed macaques in human-modified landscapes in Leyte and Mindanao which serves as tourist areas. Specifically, assess the knowledge and attitude of humans to the presence of macaques as they can share the same resources like space and food. In addition, this interaction of humans and macaques may be new which may lead to changes in behavior and perception of locals and tourists on wildlife. In order to gather enough data and representation of the target group, this project will be done for two years using scientifically accepted survey method and data analysis. The program will be led by zoologists and environmental scientists. The data generated can then be used for sustainable tourism which can in turn mitigate human-macaque conflicts and zoonosis. Aside from knowledge generation through publications, presentations and IEC materials, awareness campaign in local communities to increase positive perception and attitude towards wildlife in the area will be conducted in coordination with the Local Government unit and agencies that manages the tourist spots. Data in this project are also essential to generate the the Vulnerability Index (CZVI) of the program. 

The project deals with a social approach to gather information on perception of tourists and residents/locals on long-tailed macaques in human-modified landscapes in Leyte and Mindanao which serves as tourist areas. Specifically, assess the knowledge and attitude of humans to the presence of macaques as they can share the same resources like space and food. In addition, this interaction of humans and macaques may be new which may lead to changes in behavior and perception of locals and tourists on wildlife. In order to gather enough data and representation of the target group, this project will be done for two years using scientifically accepted survey method and data analysis. The program will be led by zoologists and environmental scientists. The data generated can then be used for sustainable tourism which can in turn mitigate human-macaque conflicts and zoonosis. Aside from knowledge generation through publications, presentations and IEC materials, awareness campaign in local communities to increase positive perception and attitude towards wildlife in the area will be conducted in coordination with the Local Government unit and agencies that manages the tourist spots. Data in this project are also essential to generate the the Vulnerability Index (CZVI) of the program. 

With the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance coupled with the dwindling supply of new antibiotics, it is critical that innovative solutions be implemented that would allow rapid discovery of novel compounds from natural sources. Soil microbes are wealthy in genetically-encoded small molecules and have been successful sources of effective antibiotics. Conventional cultivation approaches have been widely used to discover novel environmental bacteria. However, these techniques only lead to rediscoveries because only a fraction of bacteria can be grown under standard conditions. This growth bottleneck greatly diminishes our ability to capture the wealth of chemical diversity found in nature and ultimately impedes NP discovery. To break this bottleneck, we propose a metagenomic-driven pipeline that bypasses the need of cultivation for NP discovery. The vast genetic diversity of soil microbes are fully harnessed and converted to genetic libraries that could be expressed in a heterologous host. A multi-disciplinary approach combining microbiology, genomics and synthetic biology will be employed that would allow efficient discovery of novel biosynthetic genes and bioactive small molecules.

This project aims to isolate novel bacteria using semipermeable Silastic tubing embedded in soil. The isolates will be grown in standard media after initial growth in the Silastic tubes, then induced to produce antibiotics by exposure to sublethal amounts of antibiotics. Agar plugs containing putative metabolites will be placed on lawn cultures of test bacteria to test for zones of clearing. Isolates that are antibiotic will be characterized morphologically and phenotypically. Their genomes will be sequenced, and supernatants from their cultures studied for metabolites produced. The genomes will be analyzed for potential biosynthetic gene clusters. The metabolites will be identified by mass spectrometry and compared with the predicted BGCs. The data will be compared with the metagenomic data generated by the second project in this program. The isolates, genome sequences, and metabolite identities will be kept in stock for further research.

Microorganisms have been known for their diverse natural products chemistry. In particular, soil microorganisms have produced several chemicals to help them grow, survive and compete with other species. As a result, studies have reported the substantial role of soil microorganisms in the discovery of antimicrobial compounds and their chemically-synthesized products (Mahajan et al., 2012; Kandula et al., 2013). However, with the inevitable evolution of resistant pathogens and their growing antimicrobial resistance, continuous search of antimicrobial compounds is necessary.

The Philippines, being in a strategic location along the typhoon belt and ring of fire, possesses a rich and diverse plant species which has a significant direct effect on soil microbial abundance (Lamb et al., 2011). Due to this, various studies have been conducted on the isolation of antibiotic-producing microorganisms and their antibiotic compounds they produce. However, the studies are limited only to general screening and morphological identification of microbial isolates (Parungao et al., 2016). Moreover, screening of natural products from soil microorganisms are prone to "rediscovery" of known antimicrobial compounds in the standard laboratory conditions, restricting their potential biosynthetic diversity (Vinale et al., 2017.

In this study, isolated microorganisms will be co-cultured with other microorganisms to reduce the time spent for rediscovery of known compounds. This approach mimics the ecological environment of the microorganisms which is susceptible to competition (Marmann et al. 2014). Through this approach, there will be an increased chance of discovering novel antibiotic compounds that will emerge from communication between the microorganisms.

On-farm assessment of soil quality and health is recommended to assist farmers evaluate the effects of their management decisions on soil productivity. Also, this approach permits interaction between researchers, extension people when providing interpretation to link on-farm knowledge to soil health information. The main challenge is to develop soil health measures to assess changes which are practical and useful to farmers aiming high crop production, making them food-secure. This assessment will also include gender issues and local knowledge that farmers are able to accurately predict soil quality differences of conventional and organic fields.

The project has 3 phases and consists three-step framework: indicator selection for soil health, interpretation, and integration of data collected. It will evaluate soil quality by focusing first at the project goals, identifies the soil functions associated to soil health and food security, and will develop key indicators associated with each of the functions. Interpretations in terms of performance of soil functions with site-specific controlling factors in the respective farms will be performed (Phase 1 and 2).  

The project is guided by effective study programs/activities, which would guarantee the collation of the necessary baseline data in order to develop appropriate minimum datasets (Phase 3). Since soil quality evaluation is based on expert opinion, statistical procedures will also be accomplished All indicators will be subjected to standard descriptive statistics. Education programs that include trainings and meetings on the use of soil quality tools, standards and techniques are part of the project to increase awareness that being food-secure is related to soil health. The need to improve public awareness about soil resources is relevant to help them understand how soil management decisions affect not only the soil itself but other important resources (i.e. water and air quality) as well.

The project is an interdisciplinary study that would focus on assessing the current distribution and composition of true mangroves on the coastal barangays of San Fernando City, La Union. A biophysical mapping of their distribution and predictive model of their distribution will also be constructed. Moreover, a risk attitude and ecosystem valuation study among the percpetions of the local residents thriving on the vulnerable coastal communities will be performed.

The project VIVA is a 2 year project component of INFLORAS program that would measure the diversity of invasive plants and local native trees that are currently found within many coastal barangays of La Union. The mapping component would also use to know the current range distribution of either the invasive plants or if there are still native trees that are protected. Risk attitude studies will also be conducted among the local residents of coastal barangays to know how such floras are economically important for the communities.

The USA Center for Heritage and Indigenous Cultures serves to preserve and enrich the Filipino cultural, heritage, and indigenous identity through quality research, community engagement, and awareness programs. In view of the above, this proposed project aims to document the indigenous knowledge, practices, and lived-experiences of Ati people in Panay, Western Visayas during natural calamities brought about by climate change, and their responses on the recent impacts of the government’s health and security measures during the COVID-19 pandemic expressed in the form of a book on binalaybay, a Hiligaynon poetry. This aim is premised on the idea that this piece of work may shed light in understanding the Ati people’s current social conditions amidst the pressing environmental risks brought by climate change and COVID-19 outbreak. The gathered responses during conversations with Ati communities will serve as basis for recommendation to local government units (LGUs) in creating policies that will further improve the socio-economic well-being, health condition, and recognition of the identities and way of life of Ati communities in Iloilo City and provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Guimaras.

Binalaybay is considered as one of the dying folk literatures in the country, hence documentation and curation is imperative. In this proposed study, binalaybay will be documented as a medium of expression of the Ati people regarding their indigenous knowledge, practices, and lived-experiences in time of natural catastrophes and during the COVID-19 outbreak. The book on the poems by the Ati people will be the tangible outcome of this proposed study, which documents the expressions of their indigenous knowledge, cultural identities, and local practices. Further, this project is conceived not only to portray the Ati people’s indigenous knowledge and phenomenology during natural calamities but also to provide new written literature of Ati culture.

PROJECT PRICE is the third component project of INFLORAS that is tasked to document the many diverse forms of coastal associated (marine and estuarine environments) protist flora such as myxomycetes and oomycetes. These organisms are known to be of great ecological value as it is a major microbial predator that maintains most ecosystem dynamic in terrestrial environments, especially in the soil. A number of substrates usually found along the coastlines, i.e. driftwoods, leaf litters, algae, will be the sources of this fungus like protists. They will be collected and will be meticulously isolated using technical expertise of the project leaders. New protocol of preservation and optimized culturing of this unpopular protist group is expected to be develop. The possible implication with regards to the health of the marine shoreline, and the possible threat it could give to the coastal settlers are expected to be speculated from the diversity studies that will be part of the project. 

Lichens are often regarded in nature as the most successful symbiosis between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner. Interestingly, endolichenic fungi, another lichen-associated microorganisms, has been recently discovered living within the lichen thalli. The production of metabolites previously identified from plants by its associated fungi led natural product researchers to tap endophytic microorganisms such endolichenic fungi for drug discovery. In this 3-year Project ELFHA, endolichenic fungi will be isolated from four native species of Usnea collected from eight sampling localities in the Philippines. The host lichen Usnea and its associated endolichenic fungi will be identified by conventional morphological and modern molecular (DNA barcoding) methods which could lead to taxonomic revision of the host lichens and/or discovery of new species of endolichenic fungi. The endolichenic fungi will then be screened for their inhibitory activities against plant pathogenic fungi (for agricultural application) and the ESKAPE bacterial pathogens (for health application). To hasten the discovery process, three promising ELF will be subjected to OSMAC approach for the production of secondary metabolites via solid-state fermentation of indigenous substrata and to metabolomic profiling for early detection of novel compounds. Metabolomic analysis facilitates rapid identification of extracts with possible novel metabolites without the need for compound purification, isolation, and structure elucidation. Then, the crude culture extract from a “talented” ELF, i.e., a fungal isolate with high metabolic diversity, strong bioactivity, and taxonomic novelty, will be fractionated, and tested against an antibiotic-resistant bacterium (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and fungicide-resistant fungus (azole-resistant Fusarium graminearum). Project ELFHA generally aims to discover novel endolichenic fungi with novel bioactive metabolites.

This project proposal on Safe and Secure Water Supply for Mountain Communities is a timely endeavor to address the water woes of the communities in the mountainous areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Consistent with the National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA) particularly on water security, it aims to provide sufficient, clean, and safe domestic water supply for these communities. Since the Cordillera is of unique geography with indigenous people having their own customary laws on land ownership and ancestral domains, this project will assess the communities’ water resources, supply and demand characteristics with science-based procedures. Assessment results together with all the given unique factors and climate change will be utilized for different scenario analyses through the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) software. This is to investigate options that will provide long term secure water for community water supply that are more resilient to climate change and variability. Suitable technologies will be determined accordingly as needed in each of the water systems in the community. In consideration of the specific and unique conditions in this mountainous region however, such technologies will be pilot tested as basis for parameters to be followed during actual installation.

It is expected that at the end of this project,  site- specific climate-resilient water system designs with suitable water technologies will be made available to the LGUs and other concerned agencies for adoption. This is to bring science and technology to the Cordillera people to address their critical and basic need. If the water supply problems of mountain communities can be solved with appropriate and practical science and technology, the communities can become the government’s staunchest ally in environmental protection and conservation.

This project will be conducted for three years  in Bontoc, Mountain Province where many problems on water quantity and quality are being experienced.

Project DANUM mainly aims to develop a technology enhanced watershed decision support system using participatory approaches. The project focuses in the integration of appropriate technologies transforming these as tools for watershed management. Component activities of the project include the following studies: transformations of watersheds, watershed landuse models, a participatory developed and technology enhanced watershed decision support system. The scope of the study include areas of the Bued Watershed in Benguet, and the Upland Watersheds of Mountain Province.

Coastal recreational waters are continually at risk of fecal contamination, which pose a significant public health concern since fecal material often harbor pathogenic bacteria. Recent reports still indicate high levels of fecal coliform in several areas of Manila Bay. Although quantifying fecal coliform is a standard parameter in water quality monitoring, it does not account for the entire microbial pathogen community in the environment. Characterizing the pathogens present helps in addressing the risks as well as designing preventive strategies to minimize concerns to public health. Moreover, understanding the environmental parameters that influence pathogen loading into the system is important in predicting and preventing pathogen transmission. Traditional techniques in pathogen detection such as culture-based assays, PCR, and microarrays are labor-intensive, unable to detect a majority of pathogens in the natural environment, have sensitivity issues, and rely on the availability of prior data. With the advent of metagenomics, it is now possible to account for the total microbial diversity in a single sample. This study will utilize next-generation sequencing to identify the microbial pathogen community from selected sites in Manila Bay, with focus on pathogenic bacteria, as well as use the microbial community signature for microbial source tracking (MST). Information on microbial diversity will also be correlated with various physico-chemical parameters to determine how these abiotic factors influence the microbial community. The outcome of this research can (1) provide the microbial community composition of samples from Manila Bay, (2) detect and identify pathogenic bacteria which pose risks, (3) determine the parameters as well as pollution sources that influence the pathogenic community, and (4) develop protocols for the monitoring of water quality in Manila Bay and potential pollution sources. This information can lead to more concrete steps in controlling pathogen load into the bay, thus, improving its overall water quality.

The research project entitled “Environmental protection of water bodies from acid mine drainage (AMD) using permeable reactive barrier as passive treatment system” aims to mitigate the negative impacts of mining activities to our bodies of water considering that the Philippines ranks among the richest countries in the world in terms of gold, copper and nickel reserves. The AMD is a wastewater discharge from some mining activities and is typically acidic and contains considerable amounts of hazardous components which could greatly affect the receiving bodies of water. This AMD will be treated using a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) which would act as a unit process that could neutralize the acidity and remove the toxic components. The PRB will utilize locally available materials like limestone, mine wastes, concrete wastes and fly ash as neutralizing and reactive media. The parameters that will be monitored includes pH, heavy metal concentrations, conductivity, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO) and sulfates concentrations. The treated effluent will be ensured to pass the effluent standard set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the recently amended law, i.e. DENR Administrative Order 2016-08 (DAO 2016-08). The success of the project will not only help protect the most important resource, i.e. water, but will also help achieve a sustainable green mining activity for operational mines and mitigate the release of AMD from abandoned mines.

In the Philippines, a wide array of street foods are enjoyed by both locals and foreigners. These foods are highly valued because of their flavor and form part of the rich and colorful history of the regions. Eastern Visayas (EV) is especially known for street-vended native crop-based delicacies because the region is predominantly agriculture, and excesses in the staple diet are processed into delicacies.

The problem with native delicacies is they are prone to spoilage with a number of incidents involving food safety scandals in the Philippines. Studying the different foodborne contaminants of EV street-vended native crop-based delicacies is important for the following reasons: 1) The tropical temperature of the Philippines favors the growth and multiplication of foodborne disease (FBD) etiological pathogens. 2) Food vending outlets are among the establishments that are difficult to regulate due to the lack of resources for safety controls (Collado et al., 2015). 3) There is limited information available on FBDs related to native delicacies.

This project aims to bridge these gaps in support of the two pillars of EV (expanded and diversified manufacturing subsector and vibrant tourism subsector) as well as to provide data required by the Food Safety Act of 2013. This project will run over a two-year period with phase 1 determining the microbial quality and count of hygiene indicators and pathogens as well as shelf-life of native delicacies. In phase 2, consumers' willingness to pay for safety attributes will be investigated. Outputs of the project are one/two publications, proposals on new food standards for native delicacies, establishment of a microbial laboratory, partnerships with local government units (LGUs) of different sites, and mentoring of BSIT and BSAB students in their thesis. This project will be jointly undertaken by BiPSU and VSU.    

Exploring the as-yet untapped potential of fungal natural products from the endophytes of endemic Philippine plants especially species of the family Annonaceae and Zingiberaceae increases the chances of finding novel antibiotic compounds. The concept of natural products targeting microbial pathogens (i.e. Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv and ESKAPE) has been applied to isolate novel antituberculosis and other antimicrobial compounds, and the rapid development of drug-resistant strains has significantly increased the need for new chemotherapeutic treatments. It remains important to continuously screen for novel compounds from natural sources, particularly from RARELY ENCOUNTERED MICROORGANISMS, SUCH AS THE ENDOPHYTES. The project aims at searching new secondary metabolites with potent antibiotic properties, utilizing classical as well as innovative methods for detection of antimicrobial effects. The new antibiotic compounds will be produced by fermentation using the OSMAC (One Species, Many Compounds) strategy, isolated by modern chromatographic methods, identified by spectroscopic techniques (NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, single X-ray diffraction) and subjected to broad antimicrobial characterization. It also aims to strengthen and solidify the collaboration between HZI (a global leader in anti-infective drug discovery) and UST on the chemistry and biological potentials of natural products from novel endophytic fungal taxa. At the end of the project, it is hoped that through scientific activities lined up for the study, the proponent and his institution will have broaden their research franchise in the area of novel antibiotic drug discovery and development, come up with new antibiotic drugs for further mechanistic and pre-clinical investigations, sustainable research cooperation established and a number of manuscripts related to novel endophytic fungal species and novel biologically active secondary metabolites published in peer-reviewed journals.

The coastal provinces per region will be listed and random sampling will be used to choose the provinces that will be included. However, in the selection of the final of the coastal municipalities and finally the coastal barangays will be based from the following inclusion criteria:

1. coastal communities a least 1500 m from the coastline
2. coastal communities with farming activities

3. coastal communities that have existing wells being used both for farming and domestic purposes

   Data gathering on the identified parameters will be conducted three times a week per study area and will be simultaneously conducted. Full time researchers with will be trained on the data gathering about the following: a) the physical and chemical parameters of salinity using the ProDSS Multiparameter Water Quality Meter; and; b) identification of the actual modes of saltwater intrusion.

The study will be conducted using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Study areas that have salinity levels of groundwater above the threshold limits for electrical conductivity (>1000.0 mg/L) and chlorides (> 250 mg/L) will be considered. Respondents for both the qualitative and quantitative research methods will be selected, separately. For the qualitative design, eight (8) respondents will be interviewed personally using an interview schedule.  On the other hand, the quantitative method will be conducted by random sampling. The number of respondents will be based on the total population of qualified study areas. A questionnaire will be constructed, validated, and piloted.

Analysis of the gathered data for the qualitative design will be analyzed using Anthropac and Nvivo for qualitative data while the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software will be used for the quantitative research design.

Before the actual data gathering, ethical considerations will be followed where the proposal will be submitted to an Ethical Review Board.

Development of a hybrid (integrated) risk assessment (HYDRA) model by combining models of various fields such as hydrology, hydraulics and agriculture to develop a comprehensive disaster risk assessment that will provide data accuracy in real time monitoring. This aims to improve monitoring and forecasting schemes of water-related disasters (e.g. droughts, flooding) for hazards monitoring and forecasting, risk assessments and communications to reduce community’s vulnerability from water-related disasters, enhance community preparedness and aid in local planning and decision-making. 

Quantifying the impact of ecotourism on the sustainability status of coastal communities, and providing a resultant overall picture of their status, provides a dependable foundation in implementing targeted efficient initiatives and programs that would uplift their sustainability status. This helps decision-makers and policymakers in creating appropriate policies to establish sustainable coastal communities. With this, a methodological approach is proposed in this project in order to address the aforementioned issues. With the Philippines at the forefront of climate change impacts, with the tourism industry as an important driver of economic growth, this study is particularly significant to the sustainability of local coastal communities.

This project will also provide baseline information on Cryptosporidium contamination of coastal areas in Metro Manila where bivalves are commonly cultured. Moreover, the surveillance data that will be generated from this study will be helpful in understanding the level of foodborne and environmental contaminants related to the present changing environmental conditions. Moreover, this study aims to assess the risk of cryptosporidiosis on the healthy population of Metro Manila that regularly consumes bivalves from the coastal areas of this megacity. This study will be the first to report on quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of Cryptosporidium from bivalves. The outcome of this research may drive decision-makers to establish an educational and treatment program to reduce the incidence of parasite-borne intestinal infections in Metro Manila and to conduct risk analysis programs in other similar cities in the Philippines.

Lakes are a valuable natural resource that is valued as the best source of freshwater on the Earth's surface. In addition, lakes also influence different facets of human life by providing ecological and tourism revenue. Interestingly, while there is scarcity of lakes in the world, Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) has at least eight lakes with varying levels of human activity. Lake Danao, which is situated in the Lake Danao Natural Park, Ormoc City that covers an area of 148 hectares, supplies potable water to several towns, including Dagami, Burauen, and Pastrana in the Leyte Province. It also doubles as a source of water for rice field irrigation. Other lakes in the region, such as Lake Bito and Lake Mahagnao, serve multiple functions, which include, among others, the aquaculture and eco-tourism industry. Studies on Philippine lakes have consistently increased over the years. However, the data from these studies are not readily available in a form that is accessible to other stakeholders. As a result, lake data that could have been used for modeling and predictive analysis of lake ecosystem dynamics, or up-to-date assessment and monitoring of the state of lake ecosystems remain unused to their full potential. There is a need for systematic management of lake data to enable the development of applications that will help local and national government organizations design and implement well-informed lake management programs.

After the Phase 1 (Dec. 2016- Nov. 2017) and Phase 2 (Dec. 2017- Nov. 2018) of the research program entitled "Marine Sediment-Derived Actinobacteria: New Vista for Natural Products Discovery on the Philippines", a total of 3,371 actinobacteria strains were recovered from marine sediment samples collected in 21 sampling sites in the Philippine archipelago. After screening for their antibacterial activities against pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, 169 active strains have confirmed antibacterial activities with at least 50% growth inhibition gainst the test bacteria.

This project entailed a comprehensive desk review of government orders, policies, issuances and/or legal instrumentalities pertaining to the prevention and control of COVID-19 in the Philippines.  

NRCP in-house study: preliminary study, regarding the insights and experiences of men and women who have been on WFH during the first three (3) months of the lockdown and quarantine restrictions that were imposed by the government due to the pandemic (i.e, March 16 to June 15, 2020)

Biodiversity, latest buzzword in biological sciences circle, created an initial impact among Filipino researchers/scientists a couple of Decades ago. This was manifested by the nature of project proposals reaching funding government agencies and/or non-government organizations. Apparently, biodiversity researches were dominated by botany, microbiology, and zoology investigators. More often than not, researchers in these fields work in tandem or have teamed up cohesively with ecologists.

The introduction of biodiversity as an area of research, provided a new option for botanists, microbiologist, and zoologists by utilizing their 'must' foundations in taxonomy, systematics, morphology, physiology, and ecology. At one point, taxonomists/systematists felt being relegated to the ' endangered' group of researchers with the advent of more 'modern' technology to handle biology-related studies. But biodiversity research has resurrected and has activated taxonomists and ecologists.

Biodiversity, in a more simplistic/laymen interpretation, holistically refers to the study of living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms), their taxa, species compositions, populations, relative dominance in a specific study area, as influenced/affected by in situ ecological parameters, e.g. physical, chemical, biological, obtaining in the area. The present study, is an initial attempt to document and assess the species compositions, population, distribution, and occurrence of marine algae in the island of Leyte, initially the northeastern coast facing the Pacific Ocean (Leyte Gulf). The island is among the Philippines bigger land mass and has a relatively long shoreline. Adding to the stretch of the shoreline are the islands/islets found in the Upper Leyte or northernmost municipalities of Calubian, Leyte-Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, and San Miguel, Central Leyte (Babatngon, Tacloban, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, and Dulag), has only few islets, the more 'popular' being the Diyo Island facing Tacloban City. Other islands within Leyte Gulf belong to the Western Samar towns of Sta. Rita, Basey, and Marabut, and in part that of Eastern Samar's Guiuan and the historic island ofHomonhon. The southernly or Lower Leyte towns of Mayorga, MacArthur, Javier, and Abuyog have fewer islets.

Birth of Philippine Phycology

Before the entry of biodiversity-laced researches, the study of freshwater and marine algae/seaweeds known as Phycology (Algology), the seawaters of the particularly those coming from Europe and the Americas.

1. Foreign Expeditions/Investigators

As early as the 1800s the Romanzoff Expedition (1817-1818) on board the Russian ship Rurik, diverted their route and took shelter in Manila Bay following a heavy storm in the Pacific. A von Chamisso, a botanist of the expedition collected the fust specimens of the red algal genus Corallopsis in Manila Bay. In 1831, another foreign researcher joined the Prussian East Asia Expedition headed by F. J. Meyen. Georg von Martens, phycologist of the expedition, found (1806), collected and described two new species of green freshwater algae, namely, Cladophora diluta and C. luzunensis.

Considered as the first American-led group to visit the Philippine shores, so called the American Exploring Expedition headed by Charles Wilkes, had two phycologists who worked on their collections. J. W. Harvey and W. H. Harvey (1851, 1853, 1852), reported new records of brown seaweed Dictyota dichotoma and a number of new algal species, namely: Amphitetras farinosa, Campylodiscus kutzingii, Lagena williamsonii, and Triceratium orientale. These new species were collected from Maron gas Island, NE of Jolo, Sulu. The British Challenger Expedition visited Central Philippines (Visayan Waters) in 1874-1875. One new species of marine green alga was described by G. Dikie (1876- 1877) as Poliphysa spicata collected from Mactan Island, Cebu.

However, regarded as the most successful group of foreign scientists to visit the Philippine seas came with the Dutch Siboga Expedition in 1900. The expedition covered the Sulu Sea and had their rich marine algal collections studied by different phycologists, e.g. genus Halimeda by W. van Bosse and M. Foslie (1904, 1918), family Codiaceae by A. & E.S. Gepp (1911), and W. van Bosse (1912-1928), who published a checklist of blue-green, brown, and red algal species. She made special mention of the green Bornetella sphaerica among her Philippine materials. Other foreign biologists who did algal collections included H. H. Bartlett, who came twice in 1935 and 1940-1941. His (Bartlett) was an extensive collection trips from Batanes Province to the Sulu - Archipelago.

Low Point and Recovery of Philippine "Phycology Studies”

Philippine phycological research activities suffered a set-back m 1942-1945 during the outbreak of World War II. The assault on Manila saw the country's herbarium, then under the defunct Bureau of Scici1Ce, burned to the ground, its priceless terrestrial and aquatic plant exsiccate turned into ashes. However, there were few herbarium specimens, sent as exchange materials with foreign herbaria Rijks Herbarium of Netherlands, Royal Botanic Gardens of England, and the US Smithsonian Institution, which became the subject of 'retrieval' plan of then Philippine National Museum Director and noted botanist Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing. There were few Post War foreign biologists who were able to study Philippine algal materials kept in European and American herbaria. Worth mentioning among those who came to the country was E. Yale Dawson whose publications appeared in 1953. One of his contributions to Philippine phycology was his collection and description of the red seaweed Corallopsis salicornia found along the seawall of Manila Harbor. His collection turned out to be the topotype of the taxon later named as Gracilaria salicornia.

1. Filipino Phycology Researchers

The handful of pioneering Filipino algae researchers had the biggest challenge of rebuilding the algological herbarium collections ruined during World War II. Dr. G. T.  Velasquez, a renown freshwater algologist who by sheer desire to resurrect algae research including marine algae, initiated a crusade of building manpower base of postwar Filipino researchers. He pursued his studies on Philippine Blue-green Algae (Myxophyceae/Cyanophyceae) through a Grant-in-Aid from the American Philosophical Society. He was followed by his growing number of graduate students, who, armed with Master of Science Degrees formed the core of early Filipino algologists, e.g. J. D. Soriano, M. Cantoria, V. Aligaen, E. MediJla, M. Velasco, V. Viola among others. These advisees of G. T. Velasquez turned into under and graduate student advisers and caused the production of next generation algae work algae workers. One of them as Head of Botany Department and Professor at Far Eastern University, Prof. Violeta Viola-Arbizo became the Bachelor of Science Thesis Adviser of P. A. Cordero, Jr. They were later joined by the Theses/Dissertation advisees of G. C Trono, Jr., at UP-Diliman (including M. Fortes and E. Banzon-Fortes) and P. A. Cordero, Jr., at University of Santo Tomas. Together with Cordero's elrven (11) M Sc. Degree and three (3) Ph. D. advisees. referred to as his phycology research 'offspring’s', most of whom joined the academe and research institutions here and abroad. Adding to the rekindling of the Philippine algal research were few foreign phycologists who came as expedition members. One of these was the month-lone expedition headed by the internationally known Japanese Phycologist Dr. Takesi Tanaka, who came on board the 1,000-ton training ship "Kagoshima Maru", of the Kagoshima University, Japan. The group collected both terrestrial and marine plants in Batan Island, Batanes Province and San Pioquinto, Cagayan Province. He (Tanaka, 1967, 1981) described two new species of marine algae, namely: green Avrainvillea capituliformis and brown Dictyopteris camiguensis from Batanes and Cagayan, respectively. Cordero, then a fledgling student of phycology with the Botany division, Philippine National Museum, who, together with Velasquez, was among the 7-man Philippine counterpart of the Japanese expedition. Later, he (Cordero) was invited by Dr. Tanaka to do graduate study on marine algae through the Ministry of Japan Scholarship Program (MOMBUSHO), under his advisership. He took qualifying examination for the said scholarship and studied the Japanese Expedition rich algal collections and finished M Sc. in Fisheries Degree at Kagoshima University. His thesis, titled "The Marine Algae of Batao Island" was later invited for publication in three fascicles (1976, 1977, 1978) in the Fisheries Research Journal of the Philippines. Aside from algal species newly recorded for the Philippines, Cordero (1974) described a new variety of green Halimeda velasquezii Taylor var. stuposa Cordero. Earlier, Cordero and Tanaka (1972), published the genus Halimeda of Camiguin Island, Cagayan Province.

Phycological Investigations

The Visayan Sea

The Visayan Sea surrounds the three (3) political regions of Region VI Western-, Region 7 Central-, and Region 8 Eastern Visayas. Of the three regions, the marine algal flora of Western Visayas and Central Visayas are well documented/assessed compared to that of Eastern Visayas. Algae workers in Region VI include Prof. V.-Aligaen (UPV-lloilo) and Prof. Calmorin (Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College-Estancia), M. Sc. Thesis advisee of Dr. Cordero, including their under- and graduate students. Also, on severa1 occasions, often in collaboration with Japanese a1go1ogists, e.g. Dr. Isamu Umezaki of Kyoto University and Cordero's Doctoral Dissertation Critic), or as Consultant of the Southeast Asia Fisheries Development. Center (SEAFDEC), otherwise in projects funded by the Philippine government, he (Cordero) contributed to the phycology research of Region VI. Cordero conducted floristic studies in the provinces of Aklan, Capiz, iloilo, anc Guirnaras. He reported (1978 a/b, 1980), marine algae newly recorded from the Region and the Philippines, e. g. Callymenia pacifica and few new Philippine records of epiphytic species, among others. It might be worthy of note that Cordero as designated Head of Task Force Philippine National Museum Marine Biological Station (PNMBRS), put up the first national museum marine field station in Aklan. Region 7 boasts of algae workers like Dr. Ernani Menez (Emeritus Phycologist with U.S. Smithsonian Institution) and Dr. Hilconida Calumpong (then Director, Siliman University Research Center), Dr. Danilo Largo, Prof. M. Filipinas, and Dr. Lawrence Liaos of the University of Sart Carlos, who were ably complemented by their respective graduate student advisees. Cordero, as part of his project on the- "Marine Algae of the Philippines", did several collecting trips in Mactan, Cebu, including Olango Island.

Eastern Visayas (Region VITI)

There has been no 'serious' attempts to document/assess the marine algal flora of Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), evidenced by the highly anemic information available. However, and as mentioned earlier., the pre-World War ll saw several visits t-y phycologists participating in expeditions and as individual visiting researchers, who botanized part of Eastern Visayas (Biliran and Tacloban). The Post World V/ar II algal specimens deposited in the National Herbarium, Philippine National Museum, include only three (3) red seaweed materials of Galaxaura oblongata (PNH 113931 and PNH 113937) collected 1n 1%0s from Diyo Island, Tacloban by J. Cabrera and R Magana. The other G. oblongata specimen in the PNH came from Bato, Leyte collected by 1v1r. Abad. The fourth specimen is a red corallinaceous species of Amphiroa foliacea also from Diyo Island These materials were studied and included in the doctoral dissertation of Cordero (1977), submitted 1o Graduate School, Kyoto University. One :1otes that in early 2000s, a foreign-commissioned project to assess the marine plants and animals in the Pacific Seaboard of the Philippines was undertaken in collaboration with select UP Diliman-based researchers. The said project did not include Leyte island in the Eastern Visayas, but for Northern and Eastern Samar Provinces to represent the Eastern Visayan marine flora and fauna. Only few staff of the University of Northern Philippines (UEP) were included in the project, but had no access nor were provided a copy of the project's final report (pers. com.). The present project, therefore, safely marks as the first attempt to study the marine algal resources of Leyte Island - initially conceived to cover the entire island, artificially divided into Northeastern, Northwestern, and Southern Leyte.

The project is a component of a bigger program entitled “Empowering Vulnerable Communities through Risk Communication in Disaster Risk Management (RiskCom4DRM). On the whole, the program aims to capacitate affected communities in designing, implementing, and monitoring & evaluating strategic risk communication (riskcom) plan and integrate such in their bigger local DRRM plans. Through this riskcom intervention, it is envisioned that the selected local communities will be better able to effectively manage the disaster risks confronting them. This third project focuses on the last stage of RiskCom4DRM program and is about “Participatory Evaluation of RiskCom in DRM towards Development of RiskCom Model and Policies for Vulnerable Communities.” It generally aims to analyze the outcome and impacts of the program on the vulnerability level of the local communities. Based on the experiences and lessons learned, riskcom models for each upland, coastal, and mining areas will be developed as contributions to the body of knowledge, or the scientific capital and social technologies of the country. In addition, appropriate policies will be drafted so as to sustain the good results that may be generated and integrate the science and art of riskcom in DRM policies and plans.   

To accomplish the above objectives, the pre-and-post quantitative evaluation design will be used combined with participatory outcome and impact evaluation using qualitative methods such as outcome mapping and most significant technique. For the pre-and-post design, the baseline data will be compared with post-program evaluation to determine the changes that occur that can be attributed to the riskcom intervention. Effectiveness of the program will also be assessed by analyzing the extent by which the program and project objectives have been accomplished. Survey will be used for this part. For results and outcome, focus group discussion (FGD), key informant interview, video and photo documentation, and outcome mapping will be employed. Evaluation in riskcom is participatory in nature. It is assumed that the broader the participation base, the greater the support or the riskcom process will be. This in turn results to a better chance for long-term sustainability.   

Most project evaluations in the area of communication are quantitative in nature providing mostly the breadth of what has been accomplished. They are conducted by the project implementors and results are interpreted from the project implementors’ perspective to a big extent. This participatory M&E under riskcom aims to include the participants’ viewpoint in the analysis, thus, qualitative methods will be used to include their narratives. The latter will hopefully provide depth, complementing appropriately the breadth covered by quantitative methods.  

The project will mainly focus on (i) gathering and organizing epidemiological datasets as well as social and economic datasets, (ii) analyze the data and connect the different datasets, and (iii) create visuals and data storyboards that can be used to draw gender-specific insights.