LAGUNA, 13 July 2022 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños - School of Environmental Science and Management (UPLB-SESAM) have committed to collaborate on harnessing science and humanware in climate policies and recommendations toward climate resilience.
 
CCC Secretary Robert E.A. Borje and UPLB-SESAM Dean Dr. Rico C. Ancog formalized the partnership through a Letter of Commitment (LOC) highlighting the importance of analytics- and science-based approaches in formulating climate policies.
 
In his message, Secretary Borje emphasized that addressing climate crisis is an “intergenerational responsibility”, and that the academe and educators have a critical role to play in developing human and community capacities for climate change and sustainable development.
 
Citing the local experience and expertise that can be tapped and “moved forward” to the next generation, Secretary Borje said, “We our doing our part. We're harnessing not just the hardware, not just the software, but what we call humanware,” said Secretary Borje.
 
Stressing the need for specialized training on the sciences to increase the Philippines’ resiliency and development capacities, Secretary Borje recognized the UPLB-SESAM for its interdisciplinary academic programs that will address “humanware” requirements for Philippine climate resiliency.
 
Secretary Borje also lauded the availability of UPLB-SESAM’s extension programs and support to government agencies like the Climate Change Commission formalized now through the LOC.
 
The CCC is embarking on strengthening partnerships with stakeholders such as the academic and scientific community to bolster science- and evidence-based policies and recommendations while maximizing and optimizing domestic resources.
 
The Commitment between CCC and UPLB-SESAM is in line with the ongoing case study on local climate risk profiling of vulnerable communities, to assist in the identification of adaptation and mitigation initiatives anchored on site-specific risks and vulnerabilities.
 
Also present during the LOC signing were Dr. Patricia Ann J. Sanchez, and UPLB Professors, Dr. Maria Victoria O. Espaldon and Dr. Evaristo T. Cando.