Vol. 8 No. 2 Bimonthly issue March - April 2014 ERDB Women’s Month MOA Signing for 2014, a tribute to the Riverbank Rehabilitation strong and resilient in Rodriguez, Rizal “Juanas” arangays San Jose and Burgos in Rodriguez, B Rizal are low-lying areas and mostly agricultural land were severely affected by typhoons Ondoy in 2006 and Habagat in 2013. The houses made of light materials were severely damage causing many homeless families. The absence of vegetation and the incidents that happened were the primary reasons for choosing the area as project sites to rehabilitate the river that can protect the families in similar disasters in the near future. Mayor Cecilio H. Hernandez of Rodriguez, Rizal and Dr. Portia G. Lapitan, Director of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Women’s Month 2014 Advocacy Walk ERDB two-hectare riverbank rehabilitation together with Director Portia G. Lapitan joins the Advocacy Walk held the Barangay Captain of San Jose, Antonio J. on March 4, 2014 around the UP College of Forestry Umali and Barangay Captain Rosendo C. Cruz of Burgos on February 24, 2014 at the White Garden, campus in support of the theme “Juana, Ang Tatag Mo Rodriguez, Rizal. Lynlei L. Pintor, the Project ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong” in Leader and Mr. Faustino T. Quinajon, Clean and celebration of Women’s Month 2014 at ERDB. Green Officer served as witnesses in the MOA. The MOA signing and training on bamboo was attended he month of March signals the opening of by key officials in the municipality, barangay T Women’s Month celebration at ERDB. This councilors, and some residents in Barangays year’s theme is “Juana, Ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Burgos and San Jose. Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong”. It gives special It was indicated in the MOA that ERDB shall recognition to the strong and resilient “Juanas” who provide technical assistance, training, and inspired everyone all over the country and across Next page the globe. It also recognizes the role of women who untiringly volunteered themselves in time of disaster, conflict, and calamity and their overall contributions to progress. As part of the celebration, the GAD streamer was displayed at the ERDB throughout the month of March. The activities started on March 3, a flag raising was held at the ERDB grounds sponsored by the GAD Focal Point System headed by Dr. Marilyn Q. Landicho and other members of the GAD. After the ceremony, raffle prizes were given away. On March 4, the Advocacy Walk was held all around the UP College of Forestry Campus. ERDB OIC Director Portia G. Lapitan signs the This was led by Dir. Portia G. Lapitan and Asst. Dir. Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the river bank Antonio M. Daño. Other representatives were from rehabilitation on Feb. 24, 2014 in Rodriguez, Rizal. DENR Region 4A, Forest Products Research and Next page INSIDE: 3 DepEd-NCR visits ERDB to benchmark with its technology 4 ERDB joins 2014 World Water Day 5 TDD conducts training on writing for ERDB researchers 6 Gising Diwa held in Sta. Rosa III Central School 7 ERDB joins “Walk for a Cause” in Los Baños 7 San Antonio, Nueva Ecija gets bamboo technical assistance 8 Largest Human Woman Symbol for Guinness? 2 Vol. 8 No. 2 ERDB Women’s Month ... from page 1 Development Institute (FPRDI), and Local Government Unit of Los Baños. After the Advocacy Walk, the program followed at the ERDB lobby. In her welcome remarks, the ERDB Director Portia G. Lapitan thanked the representatives from LGU Los Baños, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, Forest Products Research and Development Institute, Community and Environment and Natural Resources Office, ERDS Reg. 4A and the Los Baños Road Runners (motorcycle club). Dir. Lapitan said, “As women, we should set a good example in proving that “Juanas” or Filipino Mrs. Lyn F. Lawas, jeepney driver and guest speaker women are the strength of our country towards during the opening of the Women’s Month Celebration progress”. 2014 held on March 4, 2014 at the ERDB. The occasion also gave way to the awarding of certificates of recognition to For. Monnette S. Santos, former GAD Focal Point. It Importance of Water by Ms. Monnette Mauricio. Dr. was awarded for her 15 years of wholehearted Malou Moreno discussed the topic’ “Biodiversity and dedication, fruitful initiative and leadership, and You” while Mrs. Lyn Calderon presented a lecture untiring enthusiasm towards progress of Gender on how to survive a 72-hour disaster. After the and Development at the ERDB. presentations, the children posted the leaf-shaped Ms. Grace Magpantay rendered a song cartolina on the board. Each leaf has a written number titled “Beautiful” while Mrs. Florentina Oliva commitment to mother earth. introduced the resource speaker On March 11, 2013, the Seminar on The guest speaker during the occasion was Endocrine Concerns was held while on March 14, Mrs. Lyn Fernando Lawas, a jeepney driver. Mrs. 2014, a Seminar on Disaster Preparedness was Fernando said, “I am proud to say that in my 31 conducted, both at the ERDB Conference Room. years of driving, I have earned the respect of my There was also the actual vaccination for peers and passengers since they say that women pneumonia and flu. The Seminar on Disaster are more careful drivers than men.” Preparedness focused on the household and office She said that through driving, she was able disasters. to send her 2 children to school. The eldest is a B. As a yearly activity, the Gender Sensitivity S. Biology graduate (Cum Laude) from UP Los Training for Contract of Services was held on March Baños who is working at the International Rice 18, 2014 at the ERDB Conference Room. Research Institute (IRRI) and now pursuing her Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology. The other The final activity was on March 31, 2014 child is a BS Nursing graduate. where the Enhanced Gender Tools was launched. She ended her speech by saying that, Marla V. Cambay, TTD “Tunay nga po na ang pagiging isang babae ay hindi hadlang upang tayo ay makapagpakita ng lakas at kahalagahan sa ating pamilya at komunidad. Lahat tayo ay may kanya-kanyang MOA Signing ... from page 1 kuwento ng buhay. Babae man o lalake, magagawa natin kung ano man ang ating naisin guidance. The LGU shall provide space for the kung tayo ay may determinasyon at nursery and plantation; personnel to propagate and pananampalataya sa Diyos”. manage bamboo propagules, prepare site for out The “Tianggehan sa ERDB” was also planting, protection, and maintenance. Further, the opened on March 4. The one-day bazaar featured barangays shall provide contact persons, labor, and a variety of products like fruits, clothes, accessories feedback to LGU and ERDB. and other food items. In the inspirational message of Director The Gising Diwa Program was likewise Lapitan, she was able to capture the attention and conducted in Sta. Rosa Elementary School, Central interest of the guests and participants because of III on March 7, 2014 among Grade 5 students. the valuable information she shared regarding Topics discussed include the Dynamics and Page 9 ERDB Info Journal Vol. 8 No. 2 3 DepEd-NCR visits ERDB to benchmark with its technology participants were grouped in two before the site visit started. For. Albert Piñon explained the clonal nursery propagation procedures, while For. Gregorio Santos, Jr. discussed the charcoal briquetting processes. After the site visit, the participants left for the venue of the planning workshop in Pagsanjan, Laguna. – Jobelle Mae L. Zuraek, TTD Participants from DepEd-NCR with Dr. Portia G. Lapitan (OIC-Director, ERDB), Ms. Veronica O. Sinohin (OIC-Chief, TDD), and Dr. Jocelyn V. Mar- cial (Regional Education Supervisor III). he Department of Education-National Capital T Region (DepEd-NCR) visited the Ecosystems Research Development Bureau’s (ERDB’s) research facilities for clonal nursery propagation and charcoal briquettes production last April 11, 2014. It is a kick-off activity to the 3-day strategic planning workshop spearheaded by DepEd-NCR in partnership with the Technology and Livelihood Education-Edukasyong Pantahanan and Pangkabuhayan Supervisors and Coordinators Association, Inc. (TLEEPPSCAI). For. Santos discussing charcoal briquetting. The DepEd visitors include 100 participants composed of schools division supervisors, district coordinators, and principal consultants of Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan, an elementary subject. They came from schools in Caloocan City, Pasay City, Las Pinas City, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati City, Malabon City, Pasig, Taguig-Pateros, Marikina, Valenzuela, and Navotas. The purpose of the activity is to adopt ERDB’s clonal nursery propagation technology for the Gulayan sa Paaralan, a nationwide project implemented by all public schools. Dr. Portia G. Lapitan, Director of ERDB, welcomed the participants with her opening remarks as she introduced ERDB, its location, and For. Piñon explaining the clonal nursery propagation. significance as a research bureau. Afterwards, the ERDB Info Journal 4 Vol. 8 No. 2 ERDB joins 2014 World Water Day vulnerability assessment and how this study can be used as a tool to safeguard communities against potential environmental risks in their place. Vulnerability assessment of priority watersheds in the Philippines is an ERDB completed project under the Program on Climate Change. ERDB representatives during the Water and Energy Nexus Tour at the La Mesa Treatment Plant 2 in Quezon City. he Ecosystems Research and Development T Bureau (ERDB) joined the Kick-off of the 2014 ERDB exhibit during the Kick-off Program of 2014 World Water Day held on March 17, 2014 at Angat World Water Day on March 17, 2014 at Angat Dam, Watershed in Norzagaray, Bulacan. Norzagaray, Bulacan. The exhibit featured five As part of the kick-off program, ERDB vulnerable watersheds in the Philippines - Aringay showcased its first Interactive Exhibit featuring five Watershed in Benguet and La Union, Baco in vulnerable watersheds in the Philippines.