By Dr. Dimpna Castigador
Dr. Jessica C. Salas (with blue lei) with the organizers and participants.
Engaging the community – In celebration of Chemical Engineering Week (Proclamation No. 1365 s. 2007) and World Clean and Green Week (Presidential Decree 244 of 1993), the Central Philippine University (CPU) Sustainable Campus Committee and the Junior Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (JPIChE) hosted a lecture-forum on water sustainability last September 18, 2023 at CPU EN200 with Dr. Jessica C. Salas as speaker.
The Community Engagement and Service-Learning Center (CESL) through former Director Engr. Levi O. de los Santos provided support. There were at least 95 participants from CPU and neighboring barangays. This year’s Chemical Engineering Week celebration has the national theme “Fortifying Chemical Engineering Expertise through Enhanced Partnerships.”
Dr. Salas highlighted in her lecture the need for partnerships among the various stakeholder groups to address water sustainability challenges and opportunities. According to her, “Whatever project we do as individuals or in partnership with each other or with institutions in our social milieu, we can only adapt to the situation we are in. We can build efficient rainwater catchment systems but we should not forget to rally for forest protection. We balance our adaptation efforts with an advocacy for shifting government policies so that food will be available to plants and animals in the forest including people who choose to live in its periphery and actually protect forest integrity.”
“We also continue to educate ourselves for change in lifestyle towards the golden rule of connectivity in the ecosystem whatever our interest, career, or business. Thus in our own way, we enjoy our present inventions and adaptations, manage their imperfections, and teach the next generation with our sustained attitude and behavior,” she continued. Dr. Salas is the founder and a member of the Board of Trustees of Kahublagan sg Panimalay Foundation, Inc. and a member of the Technical Working Group Network for the Forest Resource Bill of the Philippine Congress.
The following students shared their insights gained and prospective actions to take: Lady Kyla Balibagoso (3rd year BS Environmental Management), Lynette Grace Desierdo (4th year BS Chemical Engineering), and Cherrylyn dela Cruz (4th year BS in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering). Ms. May Balsomo, Secretary of LGU Brgy. San Isidro, shared as part of her feedback that initiatives on water sustainability such are rainwater harvesting are important.
Dr. Aries Roda D. Romallosa, Chairperson of the CPU Sustainable Campus Committee, highlighted in her closing remarks that “each of us plays a significant role in helping achieve water sustainability and the collective goals of sustainable development. Similarly, CPU through its Sustainable Campus Committee, is working to develop and implement a sustainable plan that would integrate corporate culture, energy conservation, waste operations and enforcement, biodiversity, wastewater management, ecotourism, IEC campaigns, linkages, and green procurement in its academic landscape.”
After the lecture-forum, Mr. John Paul Baleña, President of CPU JPIChE, shared that the event was informative. “The severity of the global water crisis, the need for innovative solutions, and the importance of technology, policy, and community engagement were highlighted. It emphasized individual responsibility and the importance of collaboration.” Overall, he was inspired to take action to solve this critical issue of water sustainability.
The CPU Sustainable Campus Committee was appointed by University President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles to propose sustainability measures. The Committee is open to suggestions and prospective partnerships on sustainability. Emails may be sent to arromallosa@cpu.edu.ph.
JPIChE is the student organization of Chemical Engineering students with Dr. Sheila Pingul-Ong as adviser. Dr. Dahlia H. Pescos heads the Chemical Engineering Department; it is part of the College of Engineering under Engr. Dany C. Molina as Dean.
This 2023, CPU was ranked for the first time in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings which assesses universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (https://cpu.edu.ph/news/cpu-lands-in-the-2023-the-impact-rankings/).
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