Environment and Energy Engineering Group - UP ICE

𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝘀𝗶𝗸 𝗗𝗶𝘄𝗮: 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀

Asst. Prof. Noriza T. Sadie of Environment and Energy Engineering Group - UP ICE presented the impactful results of her extension project at the Saliksik Diwa Symposium on November 20, 2025. Funded by the Office of Extension Coordination under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, the project titled “Sustainable Waste Management through Proper Segregation and Waste Utilization in Public Elementary Schools in Candaba, Pampanga,” worked to transform three local schools, laying the groundwork for them to become models of environmental stewardship.

The initiative targeted Sto. Rosario Elementary School, Mandasig Elementary School, and Gulap Elementary School. Its success was built on a multi-faceted approach designed to foster sustainable habits among participants. The key strategies employed included focus group discussions to effectively gauge initial practices and identify specific challenges, allowing the team to develop targeted solutions. This was followed by the creation and distribution of necessary information, education and communication (IEC) materials, and the conduct of educational seminars for over 400 students and 41 teachers and staff members. To ensure practical implementation, the project also provided essential resources, including cleaning tools and color-coded segregation bins, and incorporated post-activity monitoring and evaluation to track progress and sustain momentum.

The project yielded notable improvements in waste disposal habits, demonstrating tangible success. Students and teachers now consistently and correctly utilize the segregation bins, reflecting a fundamental shift in behavior. Moreover, participants acquired increased knowledge of composting techniques, enabling practical waste utilization. Central to the success was the strong sense of stakeholder ownership, fueled by the full participation of teachers and administrators. By assigning teacher-coordinators to oversee implementation, the schools effectively embedded sustainable waste management into their daily routines. This demonstration highlights how integrating environmental education, practical tools, and deep community engagement can significantly enhance sustainable behaviors, offering a replicable model for other educational institutions aiming to foster responsible waste management.

Saliksik Diwa is an event that brings together the extension work grantees of OVCRD, researchers, and stakeholders from various disciplines in an immersive experience celebrating the UP intellectual landscape of extension work and public service. This symposium is a dynamic platform where the University’s diverse extension initiatives converge to showcase their impactful contributions to society.

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗛𝘆𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

The Environment and Energy Engineering Group - UP ICE invites everyone to a seminar entitled "𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 - 𝗔 𝗵𝘆𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗣 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝗜", which will be held on May 7, 2025, Wed, from 1:30-3:30 PM GMT+8 at the David M. Consunji Theater, ICE Main Building, and via Zoom.

This hybrid seminar brings together experts, practitioners, and advocates to explore how behavioral science, community engagement, and social marketing can be leveraged to drive lasting change in waste management practices. Through research-based insights, case studies, and open discussion, participants will gain tools and strategies to design interventions that not only raise awareness but also encourage meaningful and sustained action at the individual, community, and institutional levels.

This event will also launch the Phase II of the Project BREAKING THE PLASTIC HABIT in ASEAN Countries: Pilot Project for Sustainable Vending in UP Diliman Phase II being implemented by the UP Institute of Civil Engineering.

Join us in rethinking how change happens – from awareness to action – for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Interested participants should pre-register using this link or scan the QR code on the poster: bit.ly/EEEGseminar2025

Kindly share this invitation with your peers. See you there!

This seminar is supported by the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris - ERIA and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).

[Publication Alert]

Dean Maria Antonia Tanchuling and Asst. Prof. Ma. Brida Lea Diola, members of Environment and Energy Engineering Group - UP ICE, recently published a review article entitled “Assessing the impact of micro and nanoplastics on the productivity of vegetable crops in terrestrial horticulture: a comprehensive review” in the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Journal.

This is one of the outputs of their collaborative work with the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Japan.

This review paper discusses the overall impact of micro and nanoplastic (MNP) particles on the performance of vegetable crops, including a global perspective on the topic. Commonly encountered MNP particles are absorbed into vegetable plants via roots and leaves, then translocated and bioaccumulated in various plant parts. This accumulation of MNPs leads to phytotoxic effects that inhibit plant growth. Additionally, MNPs in the soil alter its properties and disrupt microbial activities in the rhizosphere. It was found that current research on MNPs has been limited to a few vegetable cultivars. Future studies should encompass a broader range of vegetable crops under both laboratory and field conditions to advance this critical field of research.

Access the paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-025-13820-1

The UP Institute of Civil Engineering and the Batanes Tourism and Hospitality Monitoring Center (BTHMC) are honored to support the Municipality of Uyugan in its 4-day Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS), conducted from April 3 to 6, 2025, across its four barangays – Imnajbu, Itbud, Kayuganan and Kayvaluganan.

Through this collaborative effort with the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), and the barangay officers and volunteers, we hope to contribute to data-driven improvements and in the development of the local 10-yr Solid Waste Management Plan. 💚♻️

This WACS activity is supported by the project “Sustainable Tourism in Batanes: A Thorough Assessment of Waste Management Indicators in Wastewater and Solid Waste Management” led by Environment and Energy Engineering Group - UP ICE Professor Augustus Resurreccion with Asst. Prof. Ma. Brida Lea Diola and Assoc. Prof. Cybelle Concepcion Futalan as Assistant Project Leaders and research assistants Emely Barte and Vince Carlo Garcia.

Batanes is currently the only destination in the Philippines that is a member of the UN Tourism International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO). The BTHMC is a UPD multidisciplinary research group from the Asian Institute of Tourism, the Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management, and the Institute of Civil Engineering, in partnership with the Batanes State College and the Provincial Government of Batanes. It leads the monitoring of tourism sustainability in the Batanes Islands through projects funded by the UPD Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development - OVCRD.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

We are pleased to announce that the three special sessions of the 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵 (𝗜𝗪𝗪𝗚-𝗔𝗥𝗕𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱) are open to the public virtually for FREE!

Check the Session Programs and register by March 10 to receive the conference link. Conference Program: www.iwwg-arb2025.org/program

If you want to join the full conference virtually or on-site, and receive a certificate of participation, kindly register at www.iwwg-arb2025.org/registration by March 3.

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭: Disaster Waste Management (DWM): Estimating the Amount of Disaster Waste
Organized by the 3R International Scientific Conference on Material Cycles and Waste Management (3RINCs) and the Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management (JSMCWM)

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮: Advancing Circular Economy: Collaborative Initiatives for Waste Management
Hosted by the the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. - Environmental and Energy Engineering Specialty Division

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯: Training Needs Assessment
on Microplastic Research in the ASEAN Region
Hosted by AMH Philippines, Inc., Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and
ERIA: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia