Extreme environments like subterranean caves are promising natural sources of antibiotic-producing microorganisms. As the prevalence of multiple drug- and extremely resistant pathogenic microorganisms increases globally, a continuous need for a new pool of defense through the bioactive secondary metabolites produced by bacteria such as Streptomyces spp. is essential. The assessment of the microbial diversity of Philippines caves is not popular among local scientists due to the physical risks involved and the very limited information available that will verify the existence of important species. Our studies however proved otherwise. Philippine limestone caves proved to be good sources of potentially new, biologically active microorganisms with potential socio-economic and medical importance. This research initiative is under the umbrella research program of the UPLB Museum of Natural History on Cave Biodiversity. Our team pioneered the study on cave microbial diversity and continues to discover new species and records of microorganisms with food, medical, agricultural and industrial applications.

Our team, initiated studies on the microbial diversity of caves found in Polillo Islands, Quezon with the support from the UPLB Basic Research Program. We also isolated new records of biofilm-forming and lactic acid bacteria and filamentous fungi from caves in Panay Islands; Cavinti, Laguna; Atimonan, Quezon, Biak-na-Bato, Bulacan; Boac, Marinduque and Cacupangan, Pangasinan funded by the UPLB MNH Core funds. The metagenome of bat guano collected from Mabini, Pangasinan was determined through a combination of Next Generation Sequencing using Illumina and bioinformatic analyses (De Leon et al., 2018). This pioneering research was funded by the DA-BAR/UP NSRI Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship and in collaboration with the Korean Collection for Type Cultures. Novel species and new record of Streptomyces spp., an actinobacterium, isolated from the same cave proved the abundance of potential Streptomyces spp. From bat guano (De Leon et al., 2018). These are kept in store in the UPLB MNH Microbial Culture Collections.

These interesting discoveries led us to further this research through this proposal that aims to screen the Streptomyces spp. isolated from bat guano of Cabalyorisa Cave, Mabini, Pangasinan for antimicrobial properties against selected multiple drug resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria. This will be done through screening of the Streptomyces spp. isolated from the bat guano of Cabalyorisa Cave, Mabini, Pangasinan for antibacterial activity against drug-resistant (DRB) and drug-susceptible bacteria (DSB) such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Enterobacter spp., Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli. The Streptomyces spp. isolated from Cabalyorisa Cave have been identified phenotypically and genotypically and validated to be new records and new species of Streptomyces.

All the Streptomyces spp. will be screened for antibiotic production against resistant and susceptible pathogenic bacteria (clinical isolates and reference strains) available at the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Sr. Memorial Hospital TB Culture Center (DPOTSMH-TBCC). This antibacterial assay will be done at DPOTSMH-TBCC by a DOH-accredited and certified TB Technologist. Antibacterial assay will follow the recommended protocol by the Department of Health Drug Susceptibility Testing (DOH DST). Further phenotypic and genotypic characterizations using conventional morpho-cultural, rapid biochemical and molecular characterization (16S rRNA sequencing) will be done to identify the putative strains of MDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) with susceptibility against the Streptomyces filtrates. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization will be done in the UPLB MNH Microbial Culture Collection and at the Korean Collection of Type Cultures for validation of new species. The bioactive secondary metabolites of selected high activity strains of Streptomyces will be profiled using the Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography in the UPLB Institute of Chemistry.

This is the first time that a study will screen Streptomyces spp. isolated and identified from bat guano of Philippine cave. In 2014, Nordenfjäll of Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences published a similar study on microorganisms isolated from several soil and plant samples including a sample of bat guano from the Philippines and were screened for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Aside from this report, there were no related or similar studies of such kind reported or published in the country.

This proposal will initially focus on screening the Streptomyces spp. from bat guano of Mabini, Pangasinan for antibacterial activity against DRB and DSB. The success of this study will be used to other known multiple drug resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria and fungi in future research projects. This will provide sustainable and cheaper natural sources of antibiotic that can provide a new line of defense for DRB such as the multiple drug resistant (MDR), extensively drug resistant (XDR) and pandrug resistant (PDR) in the near future.

This is a basic research project that deals with the production and exchange of bronze/brass gongs and bamboo/wood instruments and of traditional verbal arts among coastal Moslem Maguindanaon peoples on one hand and the highland groups on the other such as the non-Moslem Teduray, Manobo Dulangan, and Blaan. The distribution of gongs and bamboo instruments and diffusion of verbal arts in a landscape indicate patterns of cross-cultural relations and intercultural symbiosis between the two major groups. These exchanges in music are crucial to the groups' adaptation to the varying physical and social ecologies. In the study, I will map out where musical instrument bossed gongs are made, where they are traded and for what social meanings, and how these trading routes may reveal older patterns of sedentarization, movements of people within and outside the provinces of Maguindanao and the two Cotabatos. I will also include a mapping of traditional verbals arts (spoken or sung) and do intensive ethnographic interviewing concerning musics’ social functions and practices. It will examine the changing "lives of these objects" among the peoples who use them through time, thus tracing the pathways of their diffusion in particular geo-political spaces. This study concerns the area in Lake Buluan, the source of Pulangi River, which empties to Cotabato City on one side and which is opposite to another route that is in Sarangani Bay. Because the main group of people in the Philippines comes from the Austronesian language stock, this study will provide clues to a resilient lowland-highland social co-existence based on reciprocal socio-economic ties that have existed for a very long time. These music instruments are compelling evidences of fluid and unbounded social exchanges since at least the Austronesians entered Mindanao via Butuan River. By mapping the flows of gongs and bamboo instruments in Maguindanao, one appreciates the cultural flows of ideas, goods, and peoples in an important but less studied part of our archipelago.

Water is a precondition to food production and economic growth. As population increases and the economy develops, more water is withdrawn from rivers and aquifers to support the production of food, fiber and services for the growing population with a higher standard of living. Increasing demands for water by agricultural, domestic, industrial and hydropower sectors have led to increasing competition and water supply shortages. Unabated demand for water by different sectors will lead to overexploitation of water resources and degradation of natural water environment. The impacts on climate change exacerbate water availability issues and the risks from extreme flood and drought events in the region.

The study covers watersheds draining to Lanao Lake. These watersheds drain to Lake Lanao and are plagued with several issues. Among these are (1) changes in climatological conditions affecting rainfall irregularity and intensity and reduction of annual rainfall; (2) land degradation as a cause of deforestation, quarrying and agricultural activities encroachment; (3) uneven distribution of water among water users and others (DENR-INREMP). 
Lake Lanao is situated in Lanao Del Sur of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which is considered as the largest lake in Mindanao and second in the Philippines. Moreover, it is considered as one of the 15 ancient lakes in the world. The lake was declared as watershed reserve area under the National Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act or Republic Act 7586. The lake has 5 watersheds with 336 hectares of inland water and 36,300 hectares surface area. Lake Lanao is facing several issues and challenges. A study conducted by Jose et. al. in 1996 observed that there was a decrease of water inflow during ENSO events in Lake Lanao. If unmonitored, this could be a potential threat to energy sector since 70% of electricity used by Mindanao is sourced from hydroelectric plants installed in the Lake and Agus River. Protection of the watersheds draining to the Lake is very important. 
Effective management of water resources requires comprehensive understanding of the interrelations between the different factors that influence water catchment behavior and the resulting water yields. The project will generate science-based information to support formulation of plans and programs for sustainable management and conservation of freshwater resources. Sustainable management leads to water-secure future and sustain economic growth.
 

In the Philippines, studies and monitoring programs on the extent of toxic heavy metal contamination remains to be limited, despite the persisting issues on food safety and security. Although the EMB-DENR has an existing heavy metal monitoring activity, their mandate is limited for now on selected aquatic ecosystems (National Water Quality Status Report 2006-2013). The DA, for its part, requires the analysis of heavy metals and other water pollutants in wastewater prior to the issuance of certification for latter’s re-use for the purposes of irrigation and other agricultural uses. Based on extensive literature review and personal communications with EMB-DENR and DA, a national program specific for the regular monitoring of heavy metals in agricultural lands is non-existent to date. Thus, in support to the mandated functions of EMB-DENR and DA, this proposed project takes on the initiative to generate basic/baseline information vital in remediation technologies towards a revolutionized Philippine health care system and improved farming systems for vegetables. Indeed, remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils is required inorder to reduce the associated risks, make the land resource available for agricultural production, enhance food security and scale down land tenure problems arising from changes in the land use pattern. The proposed project generally aims to determine the extent of contamination of Cd, Hg, and Pb – heavy metals with potential adverse effects on human health and farming productivity – in agricultural soils and vegetables in selected organic and conventional farms within the Provinces of Laguna (e.g., Los Baños, Bay, Calauan, Victoria, Pila, Kalayaan, and Majayjay) and Quezon (e.g., Tayabas and Sariaya). Farm-selection will be purposive, targeting those that are located near the possible sources of heavy metals (e.g., vegetable farms in the towns Calauan and Bay, Laguna where MakBan Geothermal Plant is located as well as farms close to the coal-fired power plants in Quezon), farms involved in the long-term use of utilize synthetic fertilizers and pesticides as well as those that use wastewater irrigation. Detection and quantitation of heavy metal concentration will utilize quantitative elemental spectrometry with the assistance of a registered chemist along with active consultation with experts from the UP Los Baños. Human health risks indices will be estimated as well, to understand the corresponding risk implications as to the extent of contamination with the targeted heavy metal on public health.

Results of this proposed project are expected to serve as baseline information that are deemed relevant to policy recommendations, enhanced and sustainable farming practices, improved campaign on food safety and security, and mitigation of public health risks. The proposed project is aligned with the current priority programs of the 2017-2022 National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA) of the NRCP as well as PCAARRD’s Vegetable Industry Strategic Program, as it will contribute to food safety and security. In addition, the proposed project is an opportunity for collaborative R&D activities between the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU), through which proactive mentoring of developing institutions like LSPU by established research universities like UPLB is highly encouraged. The LSPU’s faculty researchers and students alike are considered direct R&D mentoring beneficiaries, capacitating these people to conduct responsive R&D activities in the region. Moreover, the implementation of this proposed project justifies the establishment/functionalization of LSPU’s Science Research Facility that was recently funded by PCAARRD-DOST, in line with government’s initiatives and efforts on regional scientific development. In addition, to promote the project as GAD-relevant, selection of partner-farms will ensure that a balance between male and female participants will included in the project. Faculty researchers and student mentees will also consider equal number of male and female as recipients of research mentoring.

With the declining number of healthy freshwater ecosystems in the country, we must preserve our remaining water resources and restore those that are impaired. To achieve this, the project will develop the Philippine Biotic Index (PBI), which is a simple, rapid and cost-effective bioassessment tool which utilizes benthic macroinvertebrates as sensitive bioindicators. This multimetric index will serve as a standard tool for a national-scale bioassessment of the state of stream ecosystems and thus addressing a specific gap in the implementation of the Philippine Clean Water Act, which is the assessment of water quality using bioindicators. Finally, this project will provide scientific inputs in the formulation of a national policy for the protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems in the country.

This project will be conducted to identify the major users and stakeholders of the rivers in the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), and document how the traditions or practices of these riparian communities on resource-use and conservation impact riverine biodiversity.  In particular, the role and participation of women in the array of activities in artisanal fisheries, and in transmission of indigenous knowledge related to conservation will be documented. The location of riparian communities in the SINP will be mapped using available data from government agencies and LGUs, and through transect walks, and boat and aerial surveys.  Unstructured and structured interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews (KII), direct observation/immersion will be conducted to gather information on fishing practices, gears, crafts, and local ecological knowledge (LEK) related to traditional fisheries and river biodiversity conservation and utilization. Data gathered will be validated using the DELPHI technique, and will be correlated to ecological data from Projects 1,2, 3 and 5.  The information that will be generated over two years will be useful in developing holistic approaches and strategies on poverty alleviation, riverine resource management, and biodiversity conservation. These efforts are necessary and urgent not only to safeguard riverine biodiversity, but also to avoid the transformation or loss of the knowledge systems of riparian communities and arisanal fishers who are largely dependent on the rivers of the SINP for survival.  

This project will be conducted in the nine nonwadeable rivers within the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), particularly in the jurisdictional regions of  Western Samar (Gandara River, Calbiga River, and Golden Rivers), Eastern Samar (Can-avid Oras, Suribao and Taft Rivers) and Northern Samar (Catubig, Catarman and Pambujan rivers).  Riverine species, particularly indigenous aquatic species, which are “traditionally fished” will be identified, and the traditional fishing practices of fishers will be documented. The standing biomass, abundance and size distribution, extent of exploitation as well as the conservation status of these species will be determined. Data on riverine fisheries are necessary solid foundations in developing approaches on management, culture, and sustainable utilization of IAS in the rivers of the SINP. 

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 and evaluating strategic risk communication (riskcom) plan and integrate such in their bigger local disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) plans. Through this risk communication (riskcom) intervention, it is envisioned that the selected local communities will be better able to effectively manage the disaster risks confronting them. 

RiskCom4DRM will be undertaken to enable vulnerable communities to get organized for quick response and to avoid being exposed to risks by: 

• Implementing awareness and education campaigns to inform and guide the community on threats, preventive measures, institutional responsibilities, among others
• Promoting active participation of vulnerable communities in risk management policies and plans
• Identifying current good practices (and malpractices), adaptation strategies, and coping skills
• Documenting and validating best indigenous practices and local technologies
• Involving rural communities in monitoring key indicators
• Implementing early warning systems using community-based communication channels
• Mobilizing the support of different sectors to promote rehabilitation and reconstruction in affected communities.       

This project tackles the first sequential step in RiskCom4DRM program. It deals with the baseline or situational analysis. It seeks to draw up the situation in the selected communities by identifying and analyzing the following aspects: key DRM issues, affected stakeholders, existing policies and programs on DRM, organizations doing work on DRM, communication resources, and communication needs to be addressed by RiskCom4DRM. Data gathering techniques will make use of participatory rapid communication appraisal methods (PRCA) such as problem tree, social mapping, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. A preliminary analysis of the situation based on secondary data shall set the focus for the field PRCA. 

The value added of this participatory approach is that it leads community members to: (a) jointly discuss the issue that the riskcom initiative intends to address; (b) brainstorm and agree on who would be affected by the riskcom initiative; (c) have an influence over the riskcom process and an interest in its successful implementation; (d) focus on people and groups with “concrete” stake; and (e) cluster and prioritize those with higher levels of interest and influence over the issue (FAO, 2014).  Furthermore, PRCA in riskcom involves the centrality of listening to project stakeholders’ voices (FAO, 2014: 44). From this, their real needs, understanding of, perceptions and assumptions regarding risk or DRRM in general can be threshed out and clarified on a deeper level. This also provides a sense of ownership of the riskcom process and protocol to be developed.

Literature review would attest that many studies on baseline assessment skip the communication data while focusing heavily on socio-demographics, economic and technical aspects. As such, there are rarely baseline data available for communication planning. This results to having arbitrary (and not strategic) communication plans based on guts and feel and not really on actual evidences gathered on the ground.    

The results of this project will serve as the empirical basis for the next step and the project entitled “Design, Management, and Implementation of Community-Based Riskcom in Disaster Risk Management.” This will help form the strategic riskcom plan that depicts the essential communication elements and approaches meant to bring about desired behavioral changes among the various stakeholders in terms of sound disaster risk management.

Disaster risk management (DRM) is an information- and knowledge-intensive endeavor. People can only “learn better, do better” when they have relevant information and knowledge to base their practices on. To a large extent, human behavior is driven by what people know and understand. Thus, the need for a communication intervention that would facilitate learning and knowledge sharing among the stakeholders on DRM. 

This project proposal is related to a similar project undertaken by the proponent for climate resilience among coastal communities in Bangladesh. Entitled “Rural Radio Initiatives for Coastal Climate Resilient Infrastructure Project (RRI-CCRIP), this also involved the conduct of intensive situational analysis the results of which were used for developing and implementing a local Strategic Communication for Development (Comdev) Plan that addresses climate resilience among poor coastal communities.  Given the context in this area, rural or community radio was chosen as the hub of all the communication efforts in the communities. 

Through this new initiative in the Philippine setting, the proponent aims to find out how the distinct features of riskcom, as the communication approach and framework, as well as its accompanying elements (source, messages, channel) can push and pull the DRM efforts at the local community level. 

The Philippines is constantly being exposed to natural hazards due to its climate system and location in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Through the years, the country has seen these hazards become disasters of increasing impact. The geophysical characteristics of the country merged with the socio-economic and cultural contexts have mostly caused hazards to turn into disasters. 

There has been a recent influx of studies on risk assessment for risk reduction mostly in the fields of environmental science, engineering, agriculture and forestry (Licuanan et al., 2015; Asare-Kyei et al., 2014; Cadag, J. and Gaillard, JC., 2012; Barquet, K. and Cumiskey, L., 2018). Many vulnerable areas have been studied and many risk assessment maps have been developed. However, there have been limited studies done on risk communication. The participatory nature of risk communication for DRRM aims to establish a context-specific, people-focused approach to risk reduction and management.

Mastitis infection is a prevalent disease in dairy animals characterized by the inflammation of the mammary gland of the infected animal. Mastitis infection affects both quality and quantity of milk thus causing severe economic burden to dairy farmers worldwide. In the Philippines, the rapidly growing population and strong economic growth is pushing further the demand for milk. However, the prevalence of mastitis infection undermines the government’s efforts in improving local dairy industry. The country is hoping to increase local milk production from its current measly levels which only accounts roughly at 1% of the total supply. The common farm practice in addressing mastitis infection is the administration of antibiotic to farm animals. This practice however have multiple negative implications as it results to high volume of milk wastage as well as high risk of residual antibiotic contamination in milk. Antibiotic contamination in food have been shown to pose adverse health effects to humans. A more serious dimension of antibiotic contamination in food is on its linked to the emergence of antibiotic resistance in many bacterial pathogens. Meanwhile, bacteriocins are antimicrobial compounds that have been utilized as a food-grade antimicrobial agent in many industrialized countries. These compounds are inherently potent against mastitis-causing bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus agalactiae, Corynebacterium bovis, and Staphylococcus aureus. This proposed research undertaking hopes to establish the utility of bacteriocin-based prophylactic and therapeutic formulation against mastitis infection in dairy cattle. The success of this proposed project should benefit dairy farmers by providing access to food-grade alternative for the prevention and control of mastitis infection. This proposed research undertaking is aligned to the government’s efforts for the development of the local dairy industry. The food-grade nature of bacteriocins should also address the problem of residual antibiotic contamination in milk from

The project will visualize the largely invisible water resource that runs underneath the ground. The UP Cebu Center for Environmental Informatics (CENVI) has experience in data processing techniques for generating map visualizations of geospatial data from satellites and other sources. GRNDH2O.ph will utilize sensors for deployment to multiple monitoring wells across the study area. These wells have direct access to the underlying aquifer system; hence, extracting real-time data from these wells will provide vital information on the groundwater state of health. The sensor system will emerge from the Open Data Kit (ODK) platform for mobile devices, which allows for offline data acquisition. Mobile-based data collection will suit the Philippine urban setting because many wells are in areas where communication infrastructure is non-existent or has poor performance. The idea is to collect data from as many wells as possible, regardless of transport access and communication constraints. GRNDH2O.ph will create a map of the data to visualize, ideally in real-time, the changes that occur to the groundwater resource as a function of urban development and climate change. Although mathematical models that propose to relate these variables with the state of groundwater resources are available, the availability of timely data will significantly enhance the accuracy and predictive value of such models for decision-making purposes. 

According to the Updated Lake Danao Natural Park Protected Area Management Plan (ULDNPPAMP) 2017, households which rely on fishing in Lake Danao are affected by the fluctuating stock of economically important freshwater fisheries species like tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), ‘tahong’ or ‘tab’ (Anodonta woodiana) and the seasonal ‘kasili’ (Anguilla rostrata) (Jocson and Costim, 2010; ULDNPPAMP 2017). This situation worsened after a Magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit the island of Leyte last 6 July 2017. Since then, the locals reported declining fish catch. In June 2018, local authorities of Ormoc City released 20,000 tilapia fingerlings into the lake in the hope of helping the fishing communities recover from their losses. Instead, the LGU Ormoc received criticism from experts and other concerned entities following the said activity. These critics fear that the invasive nature of tilapia would affect and eventually wipe out the population of other indigenous fish species in the lake. Contrary to popular belief, it was in 1998 when BFAR Regional Office VIII first introduced tilapia in Lake Danao (ULDNPPAMP 2017). Moreover, the presence of other invasive alien species (IAS) like the snakehead murrel (Channa striata) was also observed in Lake Danao (ULDNPPAMP 2017). Other factors leading to the decline or fluctuation of fish stock could be the wastewater runoff from nearby settlements and agricultural lands. All these issues surrounding the lake resources prompts urgent actions to provide a detailed picture of the current status of the fishery and aquatic biodiversity in Lake Danao. The information that can be generated from these studies can be used to formulate appropriate, timely and science-based measures for purposes of development, management, and sustainable utilization of the lake resources. This component of the LAKES Danao Program is established primarily to address issues affecting the inland fisheries sector and the aquatic biodiversity in Lake Danao vis-à-vis the goals and objectives of ULDNPPAMP 2017. More specifically, this project will conduct a regular assessment and monitoring of the catch, composition and diversity of both native and introduced fish and other economically important macroinvertebrate species found in the lake. Together with the LaWaQ component, this project will also monitor the water quality and the plankton biomass, composition, and diversity, which will help us understand the problems affecting the fish and aquatic  acroinvertebrate population dynamics. At the end, the outputs of this project would be beneficial to the LGU, concerned line government agencies (LGAs), and other stakeholders in formulating appropriate evidence-based interventions that can improve the living conditions and knowledge of the lake users while ensuring the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and lake water quality. Furthermore, this component of the program will contribute to the national government’s effort in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and 15 (Life on Land) of the United Nations Agenda 2030 vis-à-vis the Ambisyon Natin 2040. Most importantly, this project intends to help the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) of Lake Danao, LGU Ormoc and its partners fulfill the mission, vision and goals of the ULDNPPAMP 2017 specifically Goal 1. Biodiversity Resources, Protection, Conservation and Monitoring.

In the Philippines, lakes are among the most important natural resources because of its agricultural and industrial uses (Guerrero 1999). At present, there are eight lakes identified in Leyte. The largest of these lacustrine waters is Lake Danao in Ormoc City (146 ha).
Lake Danao is one of the top ecotourism destinations in Leyte and the entire Region VIII. Cognizant of the importance of the lake to the locals who are dependent on this resource, indeed, it is necessary that the water quality of Lake Danao should be maintained and protected  against harmful anthropogenic activities. Poor water quality can result in low profit, low product quality, and potential human health risks. Thus, the degradation of water resources due to man-made activities necessitates the evaluation and monitoring of water quality (PHILMINAQ 2008). This project entitled LaWaQ: Lake Water Quality Evaluation and Monitoring using Physico-Chemical and Biological Characterization therefore aims to provide an update information on the status of the water quality in Lake Danao. Levels of nutrients, heavy metals, total coliform and other physico-chemical parameters in water and sediment samples will be measured in assessing the water quality of the lake. This information can be used by local authorities and legislators in formulating and developing regulatory measures that will ensure the maintenance, protection, and responsible use of the  Lake waters.

This study aims to contribute towards the assessment of Lake Danao by analyzing the interaction of formal and informal institutions in lake governance, access to lake resources and economic valuation of key lake resources such as fisheries resources, biodiversity and recreational (ecotourism) resources. This study will employ a mixedmethod research design using quantitative and qualitative research methods in order to cover the complexity of the social dynamics of lake environments and communities. This project is significant as this aims to analyze the social dynamics underlying assessments of Lake Danao, complementing the natural science methods in the overall program proposal. This project is important implement resource management and conservation in Lake Danao that will stem from the results of the assessment will be implemented by social actors – individuals, organizations and communities- that are governed by formal and informal rules. The lack of a social science component in lake assessments may risk ignoring the influence of social actors and institutions in the overall dynamics inherent in lake communities and environments. This study aims to build on previous work by incorporating a feedback mechanism wherein informal rules and norms of local communities will feed into the policy component of lake management. At the same time, results from the socio-economic surveys and economic valuation are also expected to feed into formal and informal institutions for lake governance and management. 

Samar is considered as one of the biodiversity hotspots in the Philippines.  Its freshwater ecosystem could be home to diverse indigenous aquatic species which have been largely undocumented and unmonitored.  This aquatic biodiversity which inhabits the nine-river ecosystem of Samar needs close monitoring and conservation initiatives to save and sustain the richness and distribution of aquatic species, and to continue its function to support particularly the food and livelihood of the local community along these rivers.  

The success of documentation, biomonitoring and consequent conservation of aquatic species in the Samar Island Natural Park depends primarily on the concerted effort of scientists who will initially conduct these activities to establish and publish this information. As such, to convey continued support for conservation from the government and the local communities.  

Knowledge on the most sensitive, highly efficient and cost effective technologies, techniques and methodologies to survey or detect not only single species but multispecies of aquatic animals particularly indigenous and rare species inhabiting the river ecosystem is a pre-requisite to maximize the establishment of aquatic species database and the development of a conservation-oriented monitoring of aquatic species in Samar.  It has been observed that traditional monitoring relied on physical identification of species by visual surveys and counting of individuals, remain problematic due to difficulties associated with correct identification of cryptic species or juvenile life stages, a continuous decline in taxonomic expertise, non-standardized sampling, and invasive nature of some survey techniques. Hence, there is an urgent need for an alternative and efficient techniques for large-scale biodiversity monitoring.  This, to introduce High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) such as Next Generation Sequencing or NGS or by nanopore sequencing which is currently the advanced and most sensitive tool used to pursue our objectives such as to survey, monitor and conserve biodiversity of aquatic species in freshwater ecosystems like fishes and crustaceans.   It uses eDNA or environmental DNA which is defined as genetic material obtained directly from environmental samples (soil, sediment, water, etc.) without any obvious signs of biological source material – that is an efficient, non-invasive and easy-to-standardize sampling approach to survey species richness from any ecosystems (Deiner, K. et al., 2016 and Thomsen and Willerslev, 2014). 

This eDNA metabarcoding strategy to survey, monitor and to save biodiversity of indigenous and rare aquatic species in Samar could be used as a model to study aquatic biodiversity in other parts of the country.  This is a re entry research project of the proponent after her PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology as far as her trainings in genomics and next generation sequencing is concerned. The NGS and/or nanopore sequencing approach that will be employed in this project are best and appropriate tools to achieve our objectives as supported by our literatures on eDNA metabarcoding.

This project is the second phase of the program, “Empowering Vulnerable Communities Through Risk Communication in Disaster Risk Management (RiskCom4DRM)”. Using participatory development communication approaches, this project primarily aims to formulate a RiskComDev strategy and action plan and to develop communication materials on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in three selected areas including a coastal community (Tacloban City), an upland community (Zambales), and a mining area (Agusan del Norte). 

In contrast with other research projects that focus on the design and development of communication materials on DRM, community participation and sustainability are key concepts and principles that will guide the conduct of this project. Hence, stakeholders will be involved at different levels of project planning and implementation. The level of participation most appropriate to each stakeholder group will be considered. 

This study aims to provide a baseline data of the insect fauna in the ancestral domain of Tboli ethnolinguistic group in the protected landscape of Lake Holon, Mt. Parker in T’boli, South Cotabato. Insect diversity and ecological parameters will be identified. This study will also document ethno-entomological knowledge of the Tboli ethnolinguistic group living in Brgy. Salacafe that includes local name of insects, their uses, cultural and economic importance.

Methane (CH4), the second most dominant greenhouse gas next to CO2, is estimated to be responsible for about one-fifth of man-made global warming. According to Bastviken et al. (2011), freshwaters are the primary natural source of atmospheric CH4 by emitting 103 Tg per year, which is 0.65 Pg of carbon. Tropical lakes possess high potential for CH4 production in anoxic deep waters and sediment due to high water temperatures and thermal stratification throughout the year. Studies regarding CH4 processes in the temperate and subtropical lakes suggest that variations in CH4 emissions should be estimated on a global scale and should be accounted together with the mixing status and possible recycling pathways (i.e. assimilation by methane-oxidizing bacteria and subsequent predation by animals, such as plankton and fish, involve in the lakes’ food webs) to suggest better water resource management, aid in CH4 reduction, and help in climate change mitigation. The overall effects of a changing climate on CH4 emission from tropical lakes is poorly understood and no account of studies on Philippine lakes can be found.

To fill this gap, this project focuses on providing insights on how ongoing climate change will affect CH4 emissions from Lakes Yambo and Pandin - two of the seven maar lakes in San Pablo, Luzon Island, Philippines and compare them with other lakes at a wider latitudinal scale. These lakes are characterized by having vertically stratified layers that either wholly or partly mix annually, based on our preliminary analyses. These lakes will be good candidates for comparison with other lakes with the same quantified data (Lake Biwa in Japan and Fei-tsui reservoir in Taiwan).

In response to the two main concerns outlined in the rationale through the ongoing KTOP (Kapakanan ng Tao sa Oras ng Pandemya) initiatives of NRCP, Project RD-DIY-Micro has identified two key strategies related to the remote delivery of lessons amidst the current COVID 19 pandemic. First, I will be assessing the struggles encountered and the coping strategies employed by the teachers and students of microbiology during the online classes. I taught two undergraduate microbiology courses during the 2nd term of AY 2020-2021. At the end of the semester, I conducted an online survey (n=118) to assess the students’ perception of our online learning activities. This survey will list down their challenges and coping strategies and will identify online learning activities that engages students and enhances their learning. The survey also asked about their performance and whether the enriched mode of learning has contributed to the achievement of the learning goals at the course, program, and institutional levels. Additionally, an online perception survey was also conducted with my colleagues (n=8) who handled microbiology courses during the second term. This survey also will identify the challenges encountered by the teachers in their online delivery of lessons in microbiology. The survey also asked their rating of their performance and the strategies they employed to address students’ concerns. Therefore, during the first month of the proposed Project RD-DIY-Micro, the results of these online perception surveys will be analyzed to provide a science-based and local evaluation of online teaching and learning in microbiology. It will enumerate the challenges and struggles encountered by our teachers and students, particularly in the online teaching of microbiology where theoretical knowledge and technical/practical skills are equally important to develop competencies. In anticipation for the need to develop the technical skills as identified by the first phase of Project RD-DIY-Micro, a second phase of the project is planned. The remote delivery of lessons, while has facilitated acquisition of theoretical knowledge, has unfortunately not fully addressed the development of technical or practical skills, particularly in microbiology, where laboratory instruction is a crucial and an integral component of learning. In the past, I have developed and published several learning activities that were successfully employed in my teaching of microbiology, see dela Cruz (2014, 2020), dela Cruz & Aril-dela Cruz (2018), dela Cruz et al. (2012, 2013), Macabago & dela Cruz (2012), Winsett et al. (2017). The second month of the proposed Project RD-DIY-Micro will therefore develop a new learning activity that can be deployed online but will facilitate acquisition of technical skills for both undergraduate and graduate students of microbiology. The learning activity can be accomplished by the students synchronously or asynchronously, thereby allowing the students to manage their own time in the performance of their tasks. This will be achieved through the proposed Do-It-Yourself (DIY) learning activity package which students can easily and safely perform within the confines of their homes but will facilitate performance of technical skills which are often acquired through face-to-face learning in laboratory classrooms. The DIY learning activity package will also include a collection of videos and images which are integrated into the learning activity, and therefore, are very critical for the DIY experiments. In addition, following the step-by-step instructions, the students will perform tasks that can be done in their own backyards and/or in a forest, urban park, or any green spaces in their area. This will provide our Filipino students a “more realistic”, a “local feel”, a “direct connection”, and a “closer-to-home” (Philippine setting) learning experience. For the Do-It-Yourself tasks, learning materials can also be easily acquired from local school supplies or conducted through materials readily available at home.

The proposed activity is a research project involving a survey of experiences of local food service entrepreneurs in Iligan City who are operating their businesses during this time of the pandemic. The goal is to discover opportunities to support the sector in specific areas by understanding how respondent entrepreneurs adapted their business models for purposes of business continuity.

The study will employ qualitative methods to address the research objectives.

Given the prescribed health and safety protocols currently being implemented, data gathering will extensively utilize online interviews, but face-to-face interviews would also be conducted, when necessary. It is possible that respondents may have internet connectivity constraints. This might pose a limitation on the key informant to fully engage in his or her participation to the interview.

Currently, determining global vulnerability to impacts of climate change is in the hands of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC is the international body for assessing the science related to climate change, set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. In assessing impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation to climate change, a large array of methods and tools pertain to specific sectors, scales of analysis, and environmental and socioeconomic contexts are used but little or no attention has been given to how culture defines vulnerability (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2014). Instead, physical and biological indicators are used like size, extent, and position of margins of various elements of the cryosphere (sea ice, river and lake ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice cores, permafrost) is used as indicators of current climate change and Physiological and ecological indicators of species distributions (i.e., where species can survive and reproduce) and the timing of their life cycles. The vulnerability index to climate change generated in this study will identify which ethnic group is the most
vulnerable to climate change and what cultural characteristics plays a major role of their vulnerability. Further, the

results will provide input to policy makers in the implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies.

Due to high and increasing demand for fish protein, aquaculture is currently the fastest-growing food producing sector in the world. Since the 1970's, it has been growing at an average yearly rate of 8.9-9.1%. There are however some bottlenecks associated with production cycle in aquaculture, particularly occurrence of diseases. It is generally accepted that diseses are still a major constraint to sustainable aquaculture production. Cultured aquatic species are often exposed to stressful conditions, eventually becoming more susceptible to microbial infections. In order to protect these species, the common practice has long been to disinfect the water before use and to apply chemotheraphy. Yet, these practices are considered undesirable. In particular, the wide and discriminate use of chemotherapy has resulted in promoting selection and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in both the target organisms, as well as in the environment and moreover to humans. Nowadays, clinical trials have shifted to testing marine natural products against macroalgae, sponges and sea cucumbers. Bioactive compounds derived from these species have shown promising leads for extended preclinical assessment.

It cannot be denied that indigenous peoples (IPs) have traditional knowledge which is the source of rich cultural expressions in the form of artistic works and crafts. Indigenous peoples’ cultures, traditions, knowledge, systems, and practices have given the country invaluable creative products. Beyond celebrating their enrichment of the creative industry, IPs have set in motion the engines of industrialization in essential sectors such as agriculture, trade and commerce. Furthermore, IPs are expected to continue having a vital role with the resurgence of the handicraft and cottage industries. Despite their huge contributions and importance to society, indigenous people’s creative products remain in constant struggle in integrating in the formal markets. The indigenous people’s creative products also face the risks of cultural misappropriation and use for commercial purposes without permission, abuse by unauthorized sale, copying or distribution. The struggles of the IPs in pursuing livelihood on culture-based products are much more challenging among indigenous women. Still women, through their imaginative talent and political drive, have helped forge a space for vibrant communities through an assertion of their culture through creative enterprises. Indigenous women are the backbone of indigenous communities and play a crucial role as guardians of indigenous ancestral knowledge. In addition, they are often pressed forward and innovated a variety of forms of asserting their personal, communal, and creative capabilities. As a clear example, many indigenous women have thrived in the arts and crafts, have established themselves as leaders contributing to the cultural and creative industry. In many instances, the mastery of the traditional art of weaving has become a celebration of the feats and powers of women in the different regions in the Philippines. Potentially they have the characteristics of a leading sector that can generate growth of the overall economy; some of their sectors can provide spill over effects for the economy; and attract business and investment, and spur creativity and innovation across all sectors of the economy. Cultural and creative industries involving IPs as an economic phenomenon has recently become a subject of special research interest. This has prompted special attention on the contribution of cultural industries in terms of economic development, and led to a reinvestigation of their role in the structural development and changes of the economy. However, there is rarity of studies in the country that analyzes the linkages between cultural and creative industry and the economy and their socio-economic contributions.

While Southern Philippines has rich sources of available textile weaving design traditions and knowledge systems, most of these are still limited in terms of publication. A comprehensive, research- based and community-refereed textile sourcebook will be beneficial for academic study, product design and development, and in educating or re-orienting the younger generation of artisans among regular academic institutions or schools of living traditions. It will also be a useful guide among our organic intellectuals ---- local researchers, designers, creatives and even the present-day artisans themselves – to mainstream and to sustain the vanishing crafting traditions that is methodologically forgotten in favor of western, more accessible forms. But what could be more significant is to finally jumpstart clarifying convoluted issues on cultural appropriation and misinformation. While intentions are noble to help sustain tradition, the process and protocol in appropriating cultural content, wherein an individual “uses the cultural products of another culture in the production of his or her own art,” still is a work in progress. This project, under the Mindanao IndieGenius Textile Tradition and Innovation Program, is envisioned to provide a comprehensive guide for organic intellectuals to innovate and add value to existing material tradition, and for the public to appreciate and imbibe a sense of pride and place.

Heavy metals are a natural component of the Earth’s crust and essential to life only in trace amounts. They are known to be non-biodegradables and change their forms continuously into sulfates, silicates, carbonates, oxalates, laterites, etc. Heavy metals such as iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, and nickel are equired in minute quantities while others like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury do not iave any beneficial effects on organisms and are hazardous to both plants and animals when present in excess. However, in the past few /ears, their levels and availability have elevated significantly causing the introduction of heavy netal contamination in the environment. One major contributor and source of heavy metal pollutants is mining, which is often considered as the most devastating anthropogenic activity o the environment. Mining has been reported to pollute the soil, groundwater and surface /vater bodies because of the dissolution of heavy metal bearing minerals from waste dumps and tailings storage facilities. For example, a previous study of the main proponent of this project have identified heavy metal contamination in Davao de Oro due to tecades of artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities. In this study, we reported pxtremely high levels of copper, lead, zinc and arsenic in the area. Samples collected from “disturbed” and “undisturbed” in this site harbored soil nematodes that showed potential as bioindicators for heavy metal pollution.

Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) is a 1st class highly urbanized city in Northern Mindanao. It is the capital of the province of Misamis Oriental and serves as the regional center and business hub of Northern Mindanao (Region X). The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ranked CDO as No. 5 most competitive and No. 1 most resilient city among Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs) in the country during the 2018 competitive index evaluation. Having a fast-growing economy due to urbanization leads to an increase of agricultural products demand resulting to shortage of the city’s food supply however, the City Agricultural Development Plan for 2019-2022 stated that the local livestock and poultry industry continue to thrive despite the rapid urbanization trade, commercial growth, and technological concerns. This is because the raising of hogs and other livestock, even in backyard scale, has a ready demand from a growing domestic population and from numerous food establishments around the city. With this fast-growing economy, facilities such as public market, slaughterhouse and even backyard farms must be equipped with technology that will support their production and distribution of goods. Further, proper management of waste disposal and cleanliness are also important attribute for food safety. On the other hand, despite the growing economy of Cagayan de Oro there are still farmers from far flung areas of the city that were left from this development and many still uses traditional methods in farming which is laborious and prone to losses. As of January 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recorded 12.71 million head of pigs, 0.83 percent higher than the 12.60 million listed in 2018. The majority – about 65 percent – are farmed by small scale operators in backyard piggeries with less than 100 hogs. In reference to the PSA records, the poultry industry has a total chicken production of 477.11 thousand metric tons liveweight for April to June 2019. This was 3.1 percent higher compared with the previous year’s level of 462.70 thousand metric tons liveweight. With a rising population and a high demand on food production, our world is looking for solutions to increase food production. Small-scale farmers play an important role in the dilemma of feeding our world.

Developing countries are disproportionally affected by climate change-induced disasters, including floods, storm surges, droughts, strong winds, wildfires, and heat and cold waves. Their impacts lead to the disruption of development goals. Since emergency response during disasters is in a time- constrained situation, efficient collaboration among the stakeholders for resource allocation plays a significant role in lessening casualties. During the rescue phase of these disasters, search and rescue (SAR) operations play a critical role in alleviating human well-being. Thus, the project aims to develop a generalized decision support model for allocating humanitarian medical supplies and services during climate change-induced disasters in view of resource sharing and coordination. It comprises three phases: (1) developing a composite “disaster health impact index”, which reflects the short-term impact of a disaster on the health of the immediate locality, (2) developing a computational platform for a composite “coordination index” among any two decision-making units (e.g., LGUs), which describes the coordination among them for humanitarian medical response and the final phase (3) constructs an optimization model for decision support in allocating medical supplies and services during disasters. The proposed computational platform will be implemented in the local government units of the province of Cebu.

This proposal plans to screen for and assess the prevalence of, and identify dominant emerging contaminants such as persistent organic compounds (POPs) and endocrine-disrupting substances (EDCs) in the Iloilo-Batiano river system. These chemicals are associated with plastic and pharmaceutical pollution among other anthropogenic activities. To our knowledge, no data on the prevalence of POPs and EDCs are available for the Iloilo-Batiano river system. Moreover, The COVID-19 pandemic would have increased the likelihood of the prevalence; in terms of the increased pharmaceutical waste due to the full-capacity operation of the major hospitals in the city, and the continuous use and disposal of face masks and face shields coupled with poor waste management. Soil and water samples collected in strategic sampling sites in the river system will be analyzed using the liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LCQTof-MS) at the University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao Iloilo will be the main tool to screen for POPs and EDCs. The goal of this proposal is to screen for dominant POPs and EDC associated with Iloilo Cityś urbanization. These chemicals can serve as indicators of pollution and can be included in the successive water quality monitoring and assessments on ecological and human health.

At the start of the global health pandemic, education was one of the most affected sectors. In higher education, Commission on Higher Education and other government agencies are taking their lead to mitigate the spread of the virus and continue delivering quality education to students. One way to address this concern is through a blended learning approach by investigating the readiness of teachers and students to integrate blended learning and modify the curriculum that would adapt to the new normal in education in Region VIII. In addition, a mixed-method design using various research instruments and cluster-random sampling to determine the respondents of the study per SUC. Reliability testing will be done before the conduct of the study. Moreover, this study will respond to the readiness of the university to implement such an approach. Therefore, there is a call for a high-priority in-depth analysis in which results can guide the creation of a blended learning type of curriculum, pedagogies, policies, and the corresponding IRR to set standards to be followed. It is in the hope that this will further ensure effectiveness, success, and no wastage of resources, especially budget with its implementation.

Protein-ligand interactions account for numerous controllable metabolic processes in the body. Due to their high specificity, proteins, such as enzymes, are prime targets for drug-induced modulations of metabolic intermediates to effect the desired physiological responses. For instance, the enzyme 3- hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), an enzyme responsible for a committed step in cholesterol biosynthesis, is targeted by inhibitors called ‘statins’ to reduce LDL cholesterol levels in the blood, a hallmark of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In a previous study conducted by Saludes, et al. at University of San Agustin CND3, pineapple fruit was found to contain the small molecule ligand N1,N10-diferuloylspermidine that inhibited HMGR and lipase activities in vitro. This proposed study, therefore, aims to validate the inhibitory mechanism of action of N1,N10-diferuloylspermidine at the molecular level. This goal will be achieved using two approaches: (1) in silico molecular docking tools and (2) solution state NMR spectroscopy. The information derived from the above strategies shall provide insights on the structural motifs responsible for the ligand binding to the target enzymes. This knowledge shall, in turn, stimulate rational drug designs geared towards HMGR and lipase inhibition for the benefit of Filipinos who suffer from CVDs.

The general level of consumer concern around food safety has increased significantly in recent years. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food is a public health concern since antibiotic resistance determinants can be passed on to other pathogenic bacteria, jeopardizing the treatment of serious bacterial diseases. This study is mainly focused in the detection of the presence of commonly used antimicrobials in food animal products and isolation of clinically relevant resistant bacteria by detecting its presence in cecal samples, meat liver, kidney, and eggs. Included in the study is the isolation and detection of Salmonella sp., Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus and determination of their antimicrobial susceptibility. Samples will be collected in select public markets, supermarkets, and slaughterhouses in Cebu, Philippines. The European Economic Community (EEC) Four-Plate test will be used to screen the samples collected from the slaughterhouse and retail outlets. Salmonella , Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus will be identified and isolated (if detected) and will undergo Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing (Eucast Disk Diffusion Method). Data that will be collected will be analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The potential outcomes of the research will include publishable articles on meat antibiotic resistance, policy insights and partnerships with governing bodies such as DVMF and NMIS.

The rapid industrialization of poultry production, driven by the rising demand of the growing population for meat and eggs, has been shown to bring adverse effects to the environment because of poultry wastes going to the bodies of water. The release of toxic compounds and elements into the environment poses serious welfare and production issues. This project aims to analyze surface and groundwater samples that are reached directly or indirectly by poultry wastes from poultry farms in the province of Leyte. The physicochemical properties of the water will be characterized and the levels of toxic heavy metals will be quantified. Mathematical calculations of the water quality indices as well as the estimated health risks in humans, e.g., carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, will be undertaken. Investigations such as this is important to produce evidence-based findings that will be used in predicting the environmental impact of poultry wastes in the condition of water resources, bio-accumulation of toxic products, sustainability of water supply, fitness of water for human use, and the long-term effect of toxic metal exposure to human health. The findings will serve as baseline information to strengthen implementation of the Clean Water Act and the national drug residues control program of the country. It will also support initiatives of the local government units and authorities to intensify public awareness on the effect of water contamination to human health and to regulate the use of toxic metals in poultry production.

This study delves into the identification of factors behind the use of herbal supplements/products in Metro Cebu and captures consumer education and behavior on health supplement use. Social and cultural values and knowledge of medicinal plants are attached to decisions about one’s use of traditional medicine. The basic premise of the Ecological Model Framework is that a decision or a behavior (taking herbal supplements in this case) is a product of the interplay of internal and external factors. It considers multiple levels of influence, both inside and outside the person, that drive the individual to adopt a particular health behavior practice (use of herbal supplements). Cebu has a market with a rich cultural history of herbal medicine use and prime availability of herbal supplements. Not much is known, however, on the specific perspectives of health supplement use in Cebu. The results from this study may serve as guidance for policy and program improvement to promote more rational and safer use of herbal supplements among the Cebuano community.

African Swine Fever (ASF) has remained a threat to the Philippine economy and food security since its first outbreak in 2019, with estimated losses of at least 100 billion pesos. With no vaccine available yet, ASF intervention relies on preventive and control measures, particularly heightened biosecurity and depopulation of infected herds, all of which require massive financial and human resources. Thus, critical interventions need to be data-driven to tailor effective strategies to the local pig production system with minimal cost. While data from other countries may give insight on the Philippine scenario, most of these do not match the local setting, considering the diverse Philippine culture and socioeconomics surrounding the pig raising and pork value chain. This proposal aims to obtain epidemiological information regarding ASF outbreaks and the potential circulation of the viral antibodies in pigs so that interventions in Leyte Island are implemented based on the actual ASF situation. We expect to find patterns of ASF outbreaks and identify factors that associate with its occurrence. Such information will be critical in crafting measures to control and eliminate the ASF virus (ASFV) on the island.

This basic research assesses the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) competence, learning experiences, and academic success in the new normal of the 5000 senior high school students SY 2021-2021 at Cebu, Philippines. It specifically determines the students’ demographic characteristics as to age, gender, parents’ educational background, parents’ combined monthly income, type of student, availability of technology, and accessibility of internet connection; the SEL competence in terms of the self-awareness, social-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making; their learning experiences during the new normal; academic success based on school scholastic performance; the significant difference between the students’ SEL competence and their identified profile; the correlation between the students’ SEL competence, their learning experiences, and academic success through a path model. It uses the descriptive quantitative research design utilizing the adapted and content validated research tools by expert educators and psychologists. Both descriptive and inferential statistics are used to quantitively interpret the data. The results of the study can be used as a scientific-basis for creating policy implementation in the department of education and the research-based data for creating interventions and programs to improve the students’ SEL competence and learning experiences amidst the Covid 19 pandemic.

The project seeks to address the lack of scientific data on the status of the Alternative Learning System program in Cebu City. What the project specifically aims is to evaluate the management and outcomes of the ALS program starting 2015 to the present. The results of this investigation would be a recalibrated ALS program that is responsive to the needs of the implementers and clients. Although DepED has an ongoing pilot implementation of the enhanced ALS, Cebu City is not part of this pilot project. There is also no granular data provided by the DepEd for the case of Cebu City. Hence, the project comes in to provide the needed data to evaluate the management and outcomes of the ALS. Data gathering includes FGDs to address the evaluation objective. This will involve the 126 public schools and partner NGOs offering the ALS program in the City. The second method to be used is data mining to describe the relationship of the performance (results of the Accreditation and Equivalency Test) and the students’ socio-demographic profile. The third objective will rely on participatory method so that the perspectives and practices of the implementers are integrated in the crafting of the recalibrated program.

The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands and is recognized as one of the megadiverse countries of the world that harbors two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity. However, the Philippines also ranks among the world’s biodiversity hotspots with at least 700 threatened species, thus making it one of the top global conservation areas. In 2020, the Philippine Red List of threatened wild vertebrate fauna includes 55 species of land mammals, 184 species of birds, 51 species of reptiles and 32 species of amphibians. The IUCN Red List (2020) also revealed at least 148 endemic species under threatened category, of which 134 species of vertebrates, 4 species of invertebrates, and 10 species of plants. Furthermore, results of preliminary assessment of threatened plants of the Philippines includes 472 angiosperms, 10 gymnosperms, 202 pteridophytes, and 2 bryophytes. The increasing demand for human settlement; agriculture and unsustainable forest management; logging and mining has been identified as the key drivers of biodiversity loss in the Philippines due to the significant contribution in the reduction of forested areas and natural habitats. The extent of diversity is yet to be ascertained as majority of the flora and fauna remains undocumented. Hence, biodiversity assessment of the flora and fauna is needed to document the existing species, including endemic, threatened, and socio-economically important species.

This study will assess the status of the technology transfer and impact of the CLINN-GEM technology. Further, this study will examine the transition process and the operations of the Integrated Gold-Copper Mineral Processing Pilot Plant established in Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City (CARAGA), and, Baranagay Katipunan, Nabunturan Davao de Oro (Davao Region) in Mindanao.

Under COVID-19, the Philippines opted for a blended learning approach to learning and most Filipinos favored modular distance learning and a few have opted for various forms of distance education using the internet, television or radio. However, these very means may be barriers to accessing education in rural areas particularly among IP students, due to poor internet coverage or lack of continuous electricity, or because households do not have the devices for distance learning. In addition to cultural challenges to education, the socio-economic conditions of the familities where the students come from also pose a threat to quality education.

The project aims to come up with empirical evidence in which risk communication strategy can be conceptualized and develop, of course, with an aim that such a strategy can facilitate the conceptualization of a platform wherein ordinary people and experts mental models relative to pandemic’s risk reduction and management can be harmonize with each other.

Under COVID-19, the Philippines opted for a blended learning approach to learning and most Filipinos favored modular distance learning and a few have opted for various forms of distance education using the internet, television or radio. However, these very means may be barriers to accessing education in rural areas particularly among IP students, due to poor internet coverage or lack of continuous electricity, or because households do not have the devices for distance learning. In addition to cultural challenges to education, the socio-economic conditions of the familities where the students come from also pose a threat to quality education.

Researches have highlighted the different roles that religion, spirituality, has provided during COVID-19. May it be toward mental health, providing people with meaning in life or health and well-being, these researches towards the impact of COVID to spirituality, faith and belief have been rare. Some researches focus on COVID'2 impact to the Sacraments or exclusively towards a specific religion. Their research provides us a glimpse but neither a clear nor holistic picture of it especially in the Filipino context. The conversation of faith is not just exclusive as looking into the community we are part of but it is lifestyle that we have. Religion in the Philippines is diverse both in terms of what religion and denomination we are part of. Spirituality has always been important for Filipinos, maybe in cultural, in things that we celebrate or practices or how our spirituality mold a personal action. Spirituality has aided us but at the same time, we should also explore how COVID-19 has shaped our spirituality and what impact has it done to the Mindanawan social fabric.

While Southern Philippines has rich sources of available textile weaving design traditions and knowledge systems, most of these are still limited in terms of publication. A comprehensive, research- based and community-refereed textile sourcebook will be beneficial for academic study, product design and development, and in educating or re-orienting the younger generation of artisans among regular academic institutions or schools of living traditions. It will also be a useful guide among our organic intellectuals ---- local researchers, designers, creatives and even the present-day artisans themselves – to mainstream and to sustain the vanishing crafting traditions that is methodologically forgotten in favor of western, more accessible forms. But what could be more significant is to finally jumpstart clarifying convoluted issues on cultural appropriation and misinformation. While intentions are noble to help sustain tradition, the process and protocol in appropriating cultural content, wherein an individual “uses the cultural products of another culture in the production of his or her own art,” still is a work in progress (Young, 2005). This project, under the Mindanao IndieGenius Textile Tradition and Innovation Program, is envisioned to provide a comprehensive guide for organic intellectuals to innovate and add value to existing material tradition, and for the public to appreciate and imbibe a sense of pride and place. This study will focus on the indigenous knowledge systems of textile weaving, surface decoration and embellishment from selected ethno-linguistic groups in Davao Region and SOCCSkSarGen, highlighting materials and techniques as well as design patterns and motifs and uses. For Davao Region (the four Davaos), it shall include Matigsalug, Bagobo Klata and Jangan, to the Mandaya and the Manobo sub groups; and in SoCCSKSarGen, the peoples whom we refer to as Tau SOX - Maguindanao, Cotabato Manobo, Tboli, Blaan, Tagakaulo, Teduray. Much of the information will be collected from the communities but libraries, archives and museums will also be used as sources of information.

As part of the DOST-PCHRD’s Tuklas Lunas framework, this proposal will focus on the medicinal plants utilized by the different ethnolinguistic groups in treating lifestyle related diseases. Such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer, which are the leading causes of mortality in the Philippines last 2018 and aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This scientific validation of the medicinal plants’ effectiveness through laboratory experimentation will address the primary health care of the Filipinos especially in the rural setting where access to health care facilities is difficult and high-priced commercial medicines pose an added burden. Zamboanga Peninsula is rich in floral biodiversity and ethnolinguistically diverse. Traditionally, these are passed on to their descendants orally and not scientifically validated. Examples of these medicinal plants that still lack scientific validation are the Tinospora cordifolia Boerl (makabuhay/heavenly elixir) for diabetes, Morinda citrifolia L. (apatot/noni fruit) for cancer and Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Kurz (serpentina/snakeroot) for hypertension (Madjos & Ramos, 2021a). The reports and narratives that can be generated from this project can be utilized for further research in extraction, isolation, and bioassay studies of medically active compounds. The project envisions of a more proactive conservation management involving the different ethnolinguistic groups in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

This research project will be conducted in nine (9) municipalities (Akbar, Tuburan, Mohammad Ajul, Tipo-Tipo, Albarka, Ungkaya Pukan, Sumisip, Maluso, and Lantawan) and one (1) city (Lamitan City) of Island province of Basilan, BARMM. The study focuses on assessing the groundwater quality for drinking by comparing the concentration parameters with the standard guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Philippines National Standard for Drinking Water (PNSDW), computing the groundwater quality index (GWQI), and Groundwater Quality Index for Saltwater Intrusion (GQIswi). GIS software will be used to create spatial distribution maps which identify the boundaries of each parameter’s concentration. Groundwater samples will be taken from the existing wells, 9 sampling wells each for Lamitan City and Sumi sip, six (5) sampling wells each from (Akbar, Tuburan, Moh. Ajul, Tipo-Tipo, Albarka, and Ungkaya Pukan), and seven (6) sampling wells each from Maluso and Lantawan. There are a total of 60 sampling wells. The groundwater samples will be brought to Zamboanga City for Physico-chemical analysis of the following parameters (Total hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Sulfate, Nitrate, Chloride, Bicarbonate, and Fluoride). Volatile parameters like pH, EC, and TDS will be measured in the field using a portable EC meter.

This project utilizes renewable, biodegradable, and inexhaustible water hyacinth fiber as a cellulose source for the production of cellulose acetate (CA) membrane. The project aims to develop water filtration membrane technology derived from natural fibers of invasive non-wood plants blended with conducting polymer as an antimicrobial agent and surface modifier. Cellulose fiber isolation will be done using the extraction method, followed by bleaching and chemical treatment of the extracted fibers. Isolated cellulose will be dried and reacted with acetyl group to form cellulose acetate at varying degrees of substitution that can be dissolved in certain solvents. Subsequent in-situ oxidative polymerization of doped polyaniline (PANI) with varying loading of oxalic acid as dopant in the resulting solution is followed. Synthesis of doped polyaniline/cellulose acetate (PANI/CA) membranes is performed using phase inversion techniques employing various loading of pore-forming additive. The resulting doped PANI-CA membrane is characterized for its chemical characteristics, surface morphology, water contact angle, water permeability, and antibacterial properties. This technology provides a sustainable and low-cost alternative to the present CA membranes for water purification processes.

This proposal seeks to establish and/or generate scientific data about the floristic composition and diversity of the Munai-Tambo Key Biodiversity Area in the Lake Lanao Watershed. Data will be collected in the forested portions of the KBA, which straddles the four (4) Municipalities of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte. Currently, there is a dearth of scientific information about this KBA which is a part of the Lake Lanao- Agus River Basin, which hosts seven (7) hydroelectric power plants that supply about half of the power and electricity needs of Mindanao. Moreover, its results may be of value to concerned government and community stakeholders who intend to work towards the establishment of this KBA as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS), thereby increasing its likelihood of being conserved and protected for the benefit of the present and future generations of Filipinos.

The Department of Education (DepEd) of Cebu Province implemented the progressive expansion of limited face-to-face classes last February 28, 2022, for the seven (7) pilot schools and expanded it to one hundred eight (108) public elementary and secondary schools last March 7, 2022, (Division Memorandum No. 39, s. 2022). According to the execution of a limited face-to-face classes in the country's low-risk locations, in which Camotes Group of Islands are no exemption, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) have identified mechanisms to ensure the safety of participating learners, teaching, and non- teaching staff and their families, (DepEd and DOH Joint Memorandum Circular 001, s. 2021). The engagement of stakeholders, specifically the administrators, teachers, students, and the parents, during these trying times is an ongoing commitment and speaks volumes about the learning success of the students, (De Torres, 2021). As a huge step in expanding the limited face-to-face classes amidst the public health situation, the safety of involved stakeholders is crucial. With this, the experiences of the stakeholders on the expanded-limited face-to-face classes and sustainability of standard COVID-19 health protocol implementation and compliance must be determined. The output of this study can be a basis for a possible recommendation to strengthen the preparation of the concerned agencies for the next “progressive expansion phase” of limited face-to-face classes.

With the application of urban digital modelling and simulation via GIS and data analytics, the resulting maps will have a scenario- based comprehensive plan, which are data-informed, shaped by diverse inputs from the community, adaptable and highly responsive to changes occurring across all sectors. Move beyond static regulatory practices by leveraging a GIS and data analytics- based approach to data management and the organization of planning teams. Explore insights into emerging trends and issues with scenario planning tools for growth capacity analysis and land use interventions. Make advanced analytics part of the process by establishing baselines for things surface temperature, carbon dioxide emissions, wind direction, and other parameters. Ensure all voices are heard by supporting conventional engagement activities with digital content and surveys that drive conversations. Establish a GIS-based zoning map to test proposals and conduct zoning revisions, thus empowering the real estate community to easily calibrate LGU projects. Project 3D-CLUP facilitates and enables web-based public feedback and inclusivity. Capable of designing and simulating what-if scenarios. VR-ready integration for seamless CLUP maps analysis and visualization.

The growth of tourists visiting rural and mountainous areas is evident with the sprawling of numerous new business enterprises where lakes are often located. Lakes are good alternative tourists’ sites for sun, sea, sand tourism. Due to international travel restrictions, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided opportunities for further development of lake attractions to boost the local economy and encourage local travel to the rural and mountain areas. Developing sustainable lake tourism sites could be a viable means to improve the life of the local communities near the lakes and initiate further sustainable tourism development. One of the critical elements in sustainable tourism development is local involvement in the development process and management. While this is understood in other tourism domains in the literature, limited attention is attributed to lakes as tourist sites. Thus, the study focuses primarily on identifying and assessing the locals’ satisfaction and its influence on their support for sustainable lake tourism development. This project could provide policy-makers and managers of lake tourism sites a better understanding of locals’ satisfaction with the success of sustainable tourism development, provide insights for the design of sustainable lake tourism development, and craft short and medium-term plans and resource allocation decisions.

In January 14, 2022, the residents of Barangay Maputi, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental expressed their dismay to mining activities that turned their once clear river and coastal area to an orange-silty river-delta as they posted heart-breaking photos and videos of the polluted Mapagba River in the social media. The local government unit (LGU) of the municipality asked the Davao Oriental State University (DORSU) to investigate the matter. The DORSU researchers collected water and sediment samples from the different sites of Mapagba River. Few kilometers north, the Pintatagan River was found to suffer a similar fate. The residents also reported that another adjacent river, the Maputi River, had also discolored a year ago. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Davao Region (DENR-Davao) reported, in a public statement released after a week of the tragedy, the heavy siltation incident may have been caused by the large volume of water following heavy rains. However, residents attributed this incident to a mining operation in the area. The provincial government demanded a temporary suspension of the mining activity. However, mining has continued after a clean-up operation of the tailings but without detailed evaluation of the damage and effect of the siltation on the ecosystems. ​​As the only university in the province, it is the responsibility of DOrSU to assist the government and community by providing science-based facts of the status of the three rivers. This study is proposed to conduct an independent scientific study on the possible mineral pollution in the three rivers and the coastal area. Urgent evaluation of the water and sediment are essential for proper action, mitigation and management.

Natural resources refer to any material present in the environment, that can be utilized either directly in its raw form or requiring processing for consumption or production with attributable value to humans. Natural resources have also been identified as an important factor that can drive economic development. The critical, and integral role of natural resources to the Philippine society is very much placed in limelight manifested by its inclusion in AmBisyon Natin 2040 document as among the aspects that must be given attention to reach the Philippines’ vision of a “matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay” by 2040. In this vision of environment-society intertwine, an “efficiently-managed natural resources and environment” is targeted to be realized. One of these valuable natural resources is water (Mirchi, Watkins Jr., and Madani, 2009), evidenced by a pronounced dependency of humans on it. An important source of water is watershed and its recharge areas. Watersheds do not only provide ample volume of water for direct utilization of humans but also offer several other services beneficial to man including flood control, mitigation of drought impact, and prevention and/or regulation of soil erosion , all of which are reported to have positive inputs to livelihood activities in the tropics. Moreover, watersheds also serve as important habitat for several taxonomic groups. In the Philippines, the watershed in various localities has also been regarded as a valuable resource. Being the case, several initiatives were employed in order to manage this valuable resource. One approach is the crafting and implementation of national and local policies including The Water Code of the Philippines (PD1067), and local watershed protection, conservation, and management ordinances. The involvement of all pertinent stakeholders including but not limited to the national government, local government units, non-government organizations, community organizations, and local residents, also showed a significant impact on watershed management and protection.

Previous studies on crustacean diversity in Panguil Bay, a rich fishing ground in Mindanao (Jimenez et al., 2009), only focused on adult individuals. Larval and juvenile stages, which are also frequently encountered in the area, have been largely overlooked in biodiversity estimates or are often not included in species descriptions because these stages are difficult to identify accurately. Aside from the limited identification keys available for these life stages, other constraints include shared meristics, overlapping morphological characters, and high phenotypic plasticity (Raupach and Radulovici, 2015), making identification more challenging. Accurate species identification is a critical component in many research topics, including biodiversity studies and conservation planning and thus, a faster and more reliable method is needed to supplement and confirm traditional morphology-based identification. In recent years, the use of DNA barcodes (mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I or mtDNA COI) was proven to be successful at identifying different metazoans, including crustaceans (Hebert et al., 2003). In this study, we aim to identify larval and juvenile stages of crustaceans (particularly shrimps and crabs) in Panguil Bay using the mtDNA COI marker. The results of this study could be used as a reference for the management of these resources in the future.

To ensure universal access to sustainable energy means investing in clean energy sources such as solar, wind, and thermal. Parabolic Dish Solar Concentrator (PDSC) is a promising Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology with the highest recorded efficiencies of 25- 30% for converting thermal energy into electricity. However, commercial feasibility is yet to be proven due to the challenges against cloud disruptions, cost and complexity, environmental conditions, and high wind conditions. For the past 50 years, efforts have been made to improve the PDSC system through Solar Tracking System (STS) to make most of the solar harvesting through infrastructure improvement, advanced sun-localization techniques, and new control approaches. Thus, this research seeks to address the gaps identified and investigated from previous studies by integrating low-cost, high-quality, and wide Field-of-View (FOV) image sensors, and application of computer vision, deep learning, and machine learning for dynamic and flexible sun localization and control of STS. The study will employ a combined developmental and experimental research methodology. Most of the research works will be implemented at the CSP site, AdDU Bangkal Campus, Davao City.

The Philippines had been ranked eighth among the countries most vulnerable to some of the worst manifestations of climate change, which is the number one reason people should build up their adaptive capacity to ensure long-term food security and sustainability. The impacts of climate change and extreme events are challenges for small-scale fisheries, leading to extensive damages, altering fish productivity, and declining fish catch, including food insecurity. This current research will closely link responsive, flexible, and reflexive management systems to enable adaptation to a changing climate and increase the fishers' resilience in the various study sites. The study will evaluate the impacts of climate change, adaptations, and resilience of fishing communities and rely on fishers' ecological knowledge. This will be validated using secondary data and focus groups to elicit insights regarding adaptations and fisher's well- being to build climate-resilient communities. This will use a mixed-methods approach to study the fisheries and fishing communities in Surigao del Norte and Davao Oriental, where extreme events have impacted fishing communities. The results of this study will be useful for the fishers, government agencies, and non-government organizations to improve policies and the condition of fishers regarding adaptation, resilience measures, and well-being.

This program aims to provide safe and reliable drinking water sources to people in rural communities through long-term solutions. In order to know the current status of drinking water from different coastal areas in Davao del Sur, this project will assess the drinking water quality from community water systems. Testing the quality of drinking water from low-income communities without no connection to local water utilities agencies will be prioritized. For many rural areas, community water systems such as piped water tube wells, boreholes, and dug wells are one of the sources of drinking water. This project will test the physical and chemical quality, inorganic chemical parameters, and microbiological quality of drinking water from these community water systems ensuring the community’s access to clean water. Since these are coastal areas, excessive withdrawal of groundwater can also cause saltwater to contaminate, affecting the potability of drinking water. Thus, this project will also assess the saltwater intrusion in the different coastal areas in Davao del Sur.

The proposed research project entitled, “Limnology and Biodiversity of Lake Wood, Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur” is an eight-month basic research and multiagency project which aims to addressed the Sustainable Development Goal 6 or Clean water and sanitation to improve water quality and protect and restore water-related ecosystems. This will be done to prime the knowledge gap of the rich yet poorly known limnology and biodiversity of Lake Wood- the largest inland freshwater ecosystem in the province of Zamboanga del Sur to formulate holistic and sustainable approaches in recommending policies for the protection of the lake. It will be conducted for eight months by the implementing institution – Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Government College with a total proposed budget of Php 743,704.00 under the NSTEP Small Research and Development Program. The scope of this project include inventory of freshwater fish and other freshwater fauna, riparian flora, collect water samples for plankton and water quality analysis, and socio-economic aspect on the status of the endemic “porang” species in Lake Wood. The data will be benefited by the Department of Science and Technology- IX, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-IX, LGU of Lakewood, host institutions, academe, collaborators and other stakeholders to support the diminutive data available in the aquatic ecosystem of Lake Wood, Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur.

Liguasan Marsh is in south-central Mindanao, Philippines and it is the largest swamp and marsh area in the island. The marsh is an important wetland site and supports breeding populations of many fishes, waterbird species, including herons and egrets, rails, shorebirds, ducks and crustaceans such as shrimps including giant freshwater shrimps. As per observation in the marsh area, plenty of giant freshwater shrimps from wild that found in every landing sites and source of the largest size. The giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is considered to be the world’s largest shrimp and a high value species. The culture of freshwater prawn in the Philippines started in 1970s. Culture trial ensued, but technology was not sustained at the commercial level due to necessity in broodstock development and seed improvement. A study will be conducted to assess the population, determine the reproductive performance and offspring quality of Macrobrachium rosenbergii broodstock from Liguasan Marsh, Philippines. The population assessment will be conducted in randomly selected landing sites of the marsh area. A trials on captive breeding will be conducted. Ovarian development, moulting and spawning events will be checked during the period of study. In addition, a number of egg and larval quality parameters will be determined. The breeding frequency, fecundity, egg laying success rate, egg dimensions and egg hatchability will be also determined to assess the potential of wild caught adult M. rosenbergii in Liguasan Marsh for captive breeding and for hatchery production. In general, wild broodstock from different landing sites of the marsh will be determined for its offspring quality. The results of the research will be the source of the broodstock for future attention in hatchery operations of Macrobrachium rosenbergii from Liguasan Marsh, Philippines. The results will be the basis for selective breeding research in Southern Philippines to improve the local culture environment for freshwater prawn.

The success of environmental conservation and natural resources management is largely dependent on the support from the local community. The proposed project aims to raise awareness and increase local participation in environmental conservation and climate change adaptation by mainstreaming local and indigenous knowledge. We shall identify sites that have been traditionally protected by the local community which may be for their cultural, social or ecological values. Local traditions and beliefs shall be documented We shall also determine local awareness on climate change and document the local practices to cope with its impacts. The project shall also promote Islamic perspectives on environmental conservation by crafting “Khutba” or sermons that are delivered during Friday mass prayer among the Muslims. In addition, the project shall also document local stories/folklores in a form of story books which shall both preserve local

This study aims to generate and/or establish scientific data about the biodiversity assessment, carbon stock estimation and assessing potential community-based mangrove forest management strategies. Moreover, its results may be of value to concerned government and community stakeholders who intend to work towards the establishment of community-based mangrove forest management as avenue for the protection of mangrove and sustaining community livelihood. Mangrove forests are highly beneficial tropical forests, especially to humans by stabilizing coastlines, protect communities from storms, provide critical habitats for many animals, and store vast amounts of carbon. It supports several forms of life, including terrestrial animals, marine animals, and humans. It is also used as a source of lumber and firewood, but they also provide indirect benefits. These include their ability to absorb wave energy and serve as buffers against storms, their ability to filter the water from sediments before flowing unto the sea, a natural habitat for birds and marine life forms, including its function as nurseries and spawning grounds for aquatic life forms such as shrimp and milkfish and a source of food for marine fauna through the detritus food chain.