The Isabela State University sets another milestone as it now holds a seat in the global network of agencies promoting the integration of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction management, environmental awareness, and mitigation. The University, along with its partner agencies, took the lead in the inauguration of the International Organization on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management (IO-CCA-DRRM) Inc. Office on July 16, 2022 at 8:00 AM. Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino simultaneously serves as the President of ISU and IO-CCA-DRRM and is one of the Board of Trustees and incorporators of the said international organization. Thus, he conveyed his warmest welcome remarks to all the dignitaries from the Japan Water Agency (JWA), Japan-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Platform (JASTIP), Kyoto University (KU), Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), Asia-Pacific Network (APN) for Global Change Research, and top campus officials of ISU-Echague.
“We are counting so much on this collaboration, and I hope that the presentations…will be synthesized and consolidated so we can submit to the leaders not only in the province but in the national government for consideration,” he emphasized. Afterward, James H. Salvador, Pastor of the Echague Christian Alliance Church, led the prayer of dedication and blessing for the new building. Then, Hon. Francis Faustino “Kiko” A. Dy, duly represented by Hon. Allan Tupong, vowed for the local government’s mutual support to the goals and planned undertakings of the international organization. To exhibit camaraderie and mutual understanding between Japan and the Philippines, the Doctor of Education students entertained the attendees of the event by singing the Mandarin song “Pengyou” or friend in English vocabulary.
To mark its official opening, the grand inauguration of the office, through a ceremonial ribbon cutting, was spearheaded by Dr. Aquino, Prof. Tetsuya Sumi, an academician from KU and Chairman of JASTIP; and Vice Mayor Tupong. This is one of the highlights of the three-day Stakeholders Forum on Integrated Flood Risk Management in Cagayan River Basin as it embodies the University’s global community linkages with international partners.
As the activity advances, Dr. Joe G. Lagarteja, Data Protection Officer, launched the website of IO-CCA-DRRM. Primarily, this website was developed for the wider dissemination of the University’s internationalization efforts and ventures. Dr. Lagarteja also presented all the features and contents of the website to facilitate information searching and navigation around the control system of the website.
To culminate the inaugural event, the Vice President for Research and Development, Extension and Training, Dr. Orlando F. Balderama, then expressed his closing remarks which gave prominence to the upscaling of research projects among the stakeholders. “The collaboration has just started, and it just becomes bigger in scope…we will continue what we have agreed upon for new collaborative projects,” he explicated.
The commencement of the operations of the international office today exemplifies the University’s pivotal role in establishing a larger network of agencies around the world as other international offices are expected to rise in Malaysia and Vietnam to further fortify the forged friendship between Japan, the Philippines, and other countries in the ASEAN region.
