Leyte 3rd District Engages DOST-NRCP Researchers to Enhance Water Sustainability
Two (2) researchers from the Department of Science and Technology–National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) were tapped to provide expert guidance at a multi-stakeholder forum in support of evidence-based policymaking for resilient and sustainable water resource management in the 3rd District of Leyte, held in San Miguel, Leyte on June 5, 2025.
Dr. Rex Victor Cruz and Dr. Patricia Ann Jaranilla-Sanchez, Regular Members of the NRCP Division of Agriculture and Forestry, served as technical resource persons. Cruz emphasized the need for a shift in land use planning from political to watershed-based boundaries, advocating the Ridge to Reef (R2R) or Watershed Ecosystem Management (WEM) approach to address fragmented governance, rising water demand, and environmental degradation. Subsequently, Sanchez discussed regional vulnerabilities in the Philippines’ freshwater resources, citing climate variability, uneven distribution, and the importance of risk assessments in planning adaptive, localized responses.
In addition, Roger Luyun Jr., University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Professor, presented a proposed water roadmap for Leyte, which aimed to address the province’s growing water demands and vulnerability to extreme weather. The plan identifies six (6) priority areas: watershed protection, infrastructure development, climate and disaster resilience, governance integration, community engagement, and investment in monitoring systems and sustainable financing.
The forum opened with remarks from Bukidnon 1st District Representative Jose Manuel F. Alba, Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), who reaffirmed the legislature’s goal of advancing the achievement of the United Nations SDGs, particularly SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation.
“We need innovative solutions and strong collaborations to ensure everyone has access to safe and sustainable water resources,” he stated.
This was followed by an introduction to the institutional mandate of NRCP. Dr. Gisela P. Concepcion, Chair of NRCP Division of Chemical Sciences, and Executive Director Dr. Bernardo N. Sepeda emphasized the Council’s role in supporting evidence-based policymaking. They highlighted NRCP’s role as a government advisory body that channels scientific expertise into legislation and public policy through its “research to policy” initiative. Their remarks highlighted the importance of grounding development agendas in scientific consultation and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Under the National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA), NRCP supports the following strategic focus areas: water quality, accessibility, and availability for safe drinking purposes; watershed studies; and saltwater intrusion in drinking water among coastal and island communities.
Leyte 3rd District Representative Anna Veloso-Tuazon provided a situational briefing on persistent challenges in water access and infrastructure in the district, setting the context for the forum’s technical discussions.
An open forum and stakeholder dialogue followed the presentations, where participants raised questions and shared local concerns. Cruz, Sanchez, and Luyun served as facilitators during the session to guide the dialogue.
Concerns raised included the need for updated local water data, climate-resilient infrastructure suited to the region’s conditions, and stronger coordination in land use planning.
Participants came from local government units, the House of Representatives, national government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and civil society organizations.
Through the NRCP Experts Engagement Program (NEEP), NRCP researchers are engaged to provide technical guidance to policy discussions and public initiatives. The Council served as a co-convener of the forum which was organized by the Office of Leyte 3rd District Representative Anna Veloso-Tuazon in coordination with the House of Representatives’ Committee on Sustainable Development Goals. (Rose Dagupen, S&T Media Services)
