Magallanes leads CapSU delegation in nat'l research summit

21st PSERE Annual Conference

  

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

Dr. Editha Magallanes, president of the Capiz State University (CapSU), together with Dr. Cora Navarra, vice-president for research and extension, attended the 21st Annual Conference of the Philippine Society for Educational Research and Evaluation, (PSERE), Inc. on May 15–17, 2013, at the Librada Avelino Auditorium of the Centro Escolar University (CEU) in Mendiola, Manila.

Other CapSU personnel who attended the research summit were: Dr. Susan Dangan, executive assistant for publication and instructional materials; Dr. Mae Dumapig, dean of the College of Education, Arts and Sciences of CapSU Pontevedra Campus; Dr. Guillermo Legada, the newly appointed research director of the university; and Mr. Eduardo Navarra, Techno Gabay team leader.

Anchored on the theme “Green and Quality Life through Research,” the annual conference featured lectures and research presentations ranging from climate change mitigation to green schools to biofuel energy efficiency.

One of the highlights of the summit was the presentation of Ms. Regina Paz Lopez, managing director of the ABS-CBN Foundation, who shared to the participants an audio-video presentation titled “Living the Pasig River,” which recounts how the said humanitarian organization conceptualized and implemented major efforts to rescue from degradation and revive parts of the Pasig River.

Lopez’s presentation showed videos of their foundation’s efforts to rehabilitate sewers in Metro Manila. For instance, they cleaned the Estero de Paco, planted ornamentals and set up a floating foot bridge which people can use. According to Lopez, they have organized river warriors among those living along the estuaries, who see to it that people do not anymore throw their garbage in said areas.

Further, some 16 research papers on said topics were presented including completed studies from CEU, De La Salle Araneta University, St. Paul University Tuguegarao, Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College, Imus Institute, John B. Lacson FoundationMaritime University and Rizal Technological University.

On the last day of the summit, Legada, Dangan and Dumapig joined the eco-cultural tour in Laguna and Rizal. The team visited the organic gardens in Teresa, Rizal and the waste dumping shop of one Angelito Roan in Mabitac, Laguna. They also went to the Scrapyard Inn and Resort in Angono, Rizal.

For their part, inspired by the efforts of Lopez's foundation, the Navarras personally went to see the rehabilitated areas in Estero de Paco. Last month, the rehabilitation of the 2.9-km. Estero de Paco has been hailed by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas—with more than 1,200 families relocated to safer areas as part of the government efforts to keep them out of harm’s way during typhoons.

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT.
Among the many areas revived by the Lopez Foundation was the Estero de Paco located beside Centro Escolar University in Manila