To mark its 17th Universityhood Celebration on March 14th, Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tanggol Kalikasan. The agreement, led by new University President, Dr. Frederick T. Villa together with Dr. Marissa Espiral, the Vice President for Research Extension, and Tanggol Kalikasan Managing Director, Atty. Ma. Ronely Bisquera-Sheen aims to strengthen partnerships through the Institute of Environmental Governance's (IEG) programs. This initiative will empower local governments officials to effectively manage their natural resources that are mandated to them.
As a part of the IEG Programs, SLSU is set to spearhead the implementation of Environmental Justice Sector Reform Project Phase 3 (EJSRP 3) through the support of the US Department of Interior-Technical Affair (USDOI-ITAP) and Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affair (INL) across several coastal municipalities Quezon, particularly those bordering the Pacific Seaboard of Philippine Rise. These municipalities include Alabat, Perez, Quezon, Real, Infanta, General Nakar, Jomalig, Panukulan, Patnanungan, Perez, Polilio, and Real.The primary focus EJSRP project was ensuring environmental justice through good governance by LGUs. TK and DOI-ITAP worked together to promote environmental governance best practices by holding trainings to build capacity of local governments to perform their mandate under Local Government Code. Capacity building activities with the LGUs was facilitated by Institute of the Environmental Governance (IEGs) that were established in stte universities located in various provinces of the Philippines.
Southern Luzon State University (SLSU), the first IEG Center, shared valuable best practices in program implementation and private sector collaboration at last month's Trainors of Training program hosted by Central Luzon State University. Their contributions proved instrumental in inspiring other IEG Centers to create sustainable programs.Representing the diverse landscape of the Philippines, 23 IEG partners from regions spanning from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi participated in the program.