Institute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Science

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗲𝗳: 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟴 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗦!🌿🌊
The Institute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Science is turning 28! To celebrate, we are hosting a premier Research Talk Series featuring guest speakers from across the country.
Come sit in and branch out your knowledge with "trunks" of information covering our diverse ecosystems.
📍 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭 (𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲): May 13, 2026 @ 1:00 PM via Zoom.
Zoom:https://up-edu.zoom.us/j/91542270531?pwd=M0EsLMf97m1TllPp04UsVKO4BnWFJ1.1
📍 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮 (𝗢𝗻-𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲): May 15, 2026 @ 8:00 AM at the FFES AVR
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the leading voices in Philippine ecology!

Celebrating Excellence through Knowledge Sharing! 🌾🐟
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In celebration of the 2026 Farmers & Fisherfolks' Day, we were honored to host our participants at the Institute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Science (ITEES), Terrestrial Ecosystems Division, today, April 27, 2026.

As part of the day’s program, participants were given the opportunity to choose their specialized learning sessions. The visit highlighted a comprehensive tour of our Rainforestation Demonstration Sites. Our farmers and fisherfolk were exposed to the various typologies of rainforestation technology, observing firsthand how different planting schemes and native tree species can restore degraded landscapes while providing sustainable livelihoods.

Under the theme “Celebrating Service Excellence and Shaping a Resilient Future through Innovation,” these onsite lectures and tours were designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical field application.

Together, we are building a more resilient, biologically diverse, and sustainable future for our community. 🌿✨

Happy Birthday to our Institute Director, Dr. Regis!🥳

Happy Birthday, Dr. Berna Lou A. Regis! 🎂. May your day filled with joy and blessings!

Congratulations, Dr. Bande and ITEES team!❤️

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Welcoming a new chapter at ITEES! 🌟

Congratulations to our newly designated ITEES Director, Dr. Regis! 🎉 We look forward to your leadership as you guide the institute toward continued growth, innovation, and excellence. Wishing you great success in this new role and the initiatives ahead.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Patindol for the dedicated leadership and service as outgoing ITEES Director. Thank you for your invaluable contributions. Your legacy continues as we move forward. 👏

We are pleased to announce that the Institute has a new Director, Dr. Berna Lou A. Regis 🍃

[𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓]

The 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 (SPC) is now available for download!

In collaboration with DOST-PAGASA, the ninth installment of the offers an in-depth analysis of key climate indicators, patterns, and trends shaping the Philippines’ climate in 2023!

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫:

🌡️ 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
The Philippines’ mean temperature reached 27.8°C, 0.3°C warmer than the 1991–2020 average, signaling continued warming trends.

🌀 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬
Only 11 tropical cyclones entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility—among the lowest since 1991—yet 3 became Super Typhoons. In addition, STY , compounded by TY , affected 5.4 million people and caused ₱16.1 billion in damage.

🌧️ 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥
The year 2023 ranked as the 14th wettest year since 1991, driven by the southwest monsoon and enhanced monsoon events.

🌦️ 𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐎
The three-year cool ENSO phase, also known as the triple-dip La Niña, ended in March 2023. By July, the ENSO phase transitioned to El Niño, bringing dry spells and droughts to parts of the country.

Learn more about what transpired in 2023 and access the full report:
https://www.omlopezcenter.org/state-of-the-philippine-climate/

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VSU, UPLB seals partnership for cave research and ecotourism in Calubian, Leyte UPLB and VSU partner on a DOST-NRCP funded project to study and conserve caves in Calubian, Leyte. The research will assess biodiversity, hydrology, and carrying capacity to support sustainable ecotourism and environmental protection.

🪨💦⚠️ITEES joins cave mapping, water quality, and hazards training in Calubian, Leyte 🪨💦 ⚠️

Faculty, staff, and selected students from the Institute of Tropical Ecology & Environmental Science (ITEES) participated in a one-day training on cave science, mapping, and water quality held at the Calubian Municipal Hall last August 28, 2025.

The session opened with foundational lectures on cave introduction and formation, Philippine cave systems, and hazards and safety protocols delivered by Dr. Decibel Faustino-Eslava, geologist and Dean at UPLB’s School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM). Dr. Juan Miguel Guotana, a geologist and professor at SESAM, led a discussion on cave mapping. This was followed by a hands-on LiDAR session conducted by Dr. Guotana and Ms. Rosemarie Laila D. Areglado, a UPLB SESAM University Research Associate. The practicum emphasized the applications of LiDAR technology for subterranean surveys and related geospatial analyses. To reinforce field monitoring skills, Mr. Kit Felian C. Tenio of VSU ITEES discussed water quality assessment, emphasizing standard parameters and sampling procedures in freshwater bodies.

The activity was organized by UPLB SESAM under the NRCP project, “Integrated Geophysical, Hydrogeological, and Water Quality Baseline of Selected Caves in Calubian, Leyte,” headed by Dr. Faustino-Eslava. The project aims to provide stakeholders with guidance on the correct formulation of development and management plans for the selected caves in Calubian, using generated baseline data. Specifically, the training aimed to strengthen local technical capacity for evidence-based cave management, safety, and environmental protection in the municipality.