BUKAS-Ph: Building Up Knowledge for Advancing and Sustaining Philippine Groundwater

The Philippine Groundwater Health Index (PGHI) Project is conducting its week-long capacity-building event at the University of the Philippines Diliman. It primarily aims to develop a GHI using water physico-chemical and biological indicators. The PGHI Project is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and is monitored by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD). In addition, the PGHI Project is lead by Professor Dr. Francis S. Magbanua of the Institute of Biology, UP Diliman (UP IB).

On April 22, UP IB Director Dr. Ian Kendrich C. Fontanilla, and DOST Rizal Provincial Director Fernando E. Ablaza welcomed the project partner national government agencies (NGAs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local government units (LGUs).

NGAs include Department of Agriculture (DA) Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM), and National Irrigation Administration; Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Mount Pulag Protected Landscape (MPPL), Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed and Forest Reserve (PCWFR), Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL), and National Water Resources Board. SUCs comprise Ilocos Sur Polytechnic College (ISPSC), Benguet State University (BSU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Cebu Technological University (CTU), and University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP). Lastly, LGUs include Suyo, Ilocos Sur; Buguias, Kabayan, and Kibungan, Benguet; Pantabangan, Science City of Mu?oz, Nueva Ecija; Cebu City and Toledo City, Cebu; and New Corella, Davao del Norte.

Project partner representatives are as follows:

DA-BSWM: Phoebe P. Pua

DA-NIA Central: Jose Antonio T. Maranan

DA-NIA I: Anna Rebekah A. Garcia

DA-NIA CAR: Fremer A. William & Freddie B. Cayatoc

DA-NIA III: Armen G. Gito & Kelvin C. Villasor

DA-NIA XI: Angelica B. Soria, Lester John T. Victoriano, Mary Louise J. Sasuman, Joel L. Pagunsan, Windelyn C. Sanguenza, & Iresh Cate D. Alcantara

DENR-MGB Central: Marnette B. Puthenpurekal & Marywil Krystal L. Cabahug

DENR- MGB I: Katrina Carla S. delos Angeles & Louise Francis U. Oliver

DENR-MGB CAR: Vinalyn D. Marrero

DENR-MGB III: Ma. Teresa I. Coching & Barren Dunn R. Parungao

DENR-MGB VII: Allip Vincent B. Fornolles

DENR-MGB XI: Herbert T. Villano

DENR-MPPL: Emerita B. Albas & Mary Relia S. Padsico

DENR-PCWFR: Arbel Jay G. Vinluan & Melanie R. Muyot

DENR-CCPL: Genes O. Ari?o

DOST IVA: Jennefer Jeazon P. Medina & Raphael Dorutheo Martin A. San Antonio

NWRB: Bless D. Baltazar

ISPSC: Gemalyn L. Tenoc

BSU: Jhomee Fe (Jaja) F. Sapitan

CLSU: Aries Paul D. Padron

CTU: Jeremy P. Mondejar

USeP: Daryl S. Salas & Khmer Griffin S. Alonzo

Suyo, Ilocos Sur: Charity Ann P. Masi

Buguias, Benguet: Jenny P. Potpotan & Janno Ray S. Atting

Kibungan, Benguet: Agusto A. Daculog & Laurence C. Pantaleon

Cebu City, Cebu: Shennah Mae L. Sebial & Myka Marie A. Llanos

New Corella, Davao del Norte: Al Raschid J. Lee & Jocel B. Gascon

UP Team: Dr. Francis S. Magbanua, Dr. Daniel Edison M. Husana, Dr. Eugene C. Herrera, Engr. Romeo R. Quizon, Marian Fe Theresa C. Lomboy, Rose Abigail E. Duarte, Ashemir B. Velasco, John Kenneth R. Fraga, Bryan Clark R. Hernandez, John Christian R. Rances, John Robert Z. Orias, Jayson S. del Rosario, Sedney S. Mendoza, Julie-An N. Gregorio, and Blessa M. Elaurza