The UP School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) recently concluded an international conference on climate change, with special focus on rural communities, dubbed “Developing Sustainable and Resilient Rural Communities in the Midst of Climate Change: A Challenge to Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Strategies”. The conference, held last Dec. 1-2, 2015, was presented by the University of the Philippines, UP SURP, UP Planning and Research Development Foundation, Inc. (PLANADES), with co-convenors Asia Center Japan Foundation and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Experts from several Asian nations and the Philippines shared their knowledge and experiences, with the goal of providing insight on how to best respond to the continuing changes in our environment. In photo are, from left: Ya Min Thant, Koei International Environmental and Forestry Specialist, Myanmar; Edwin G. Domingo, DENR Director, Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office; Mario R. delos Reyes, UP SURP Dean; and Gilda Lasat Uy, UP College of Human Kinetics Graduate Studies Director.
Ayala Land, Inc. co-presented the event, while Globe Telecom was major sponsor. Media partners for the conference included Philippine Star, WhenInManilacom and Rappler.
The conference is envisioned to be a staging ground for more of these interchanges, with special focus on our rural areas. A continuation conference is planned in mid 2016.
