Selected local and foreign scholars from various regional offices and bureaus of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) were invited to the first DENR Scholar’s Congress. With the theme: “Redefining Roles of Intellectual Capital Towards Environmental Governance”, this congress is the first of its kind. DENR scholars gathered in one event to share their experiences and engage with fellow scholars as well as high-ranking officials of the DENR in discourse. This was held last October 23-25, 2019 at the Luxent Hotel, Timog Avenue, Quezon City. The participants from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) include delegates from Regional Offices (RO) Nos. V, IX, XI and Central Office (CO).

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu gave the Keynote Speech and spearheaded the ribbon cutting ceremony of the DENR Scholar’s Exhibit showcasing the achievements of Human Resource Development Service-DENR and several outputs of the scholars including their dissertations, theses, and current projects. Breakout sessions were held in the afternoon of the second day. The event featured several talks, sessions and testimonies from government officials from various departments and agencies. Testimonies from scholars were also featured.

Among the 34 dissertations from local and foreign scholarships, the Best Paper Award was bagged by Mr. Kevin L. Garas, Sr. Geologist of the Lands Geological Survey Division, MGB-CO, while finalists included Ms. Emma Rodelie M. Deverala of MGB IX and Mr. Marcius Elaeo G. Isip of MGB-CO. Mr. Garas presented his master’s degree thesis entitled: “Frequent El Nino During 4300 Years Ago Recorded in Corals from Northern Luzon, Philippines.”

The representative for the undergraduate category was Engineer Richard O. Alamo, Senior Science Research Specialist (Sr.SRS) from the Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division of MGB-CO, who won the People’s Choice and Achiever’s (Undergraduate Category) Awards for his awe-inspiring story as an undergraduate local scholar of the DENR, which deeply moved the audience as he was given a standing ovation at the end of his testimony.

As proof of commitment to DENR’s priority programs, each scholar drafted a 6-month action plan in connection to their respective researches. These may be given funding by DENR, especially for researches directly connected to the current priority programs of DENR. To seal the deal, the Scholars recited and signed a pledge of commitment. This undertaking aims to maximize the intellectual capital of DENR and further enhance the policies towards efficient and effective environmental governance.

By: Lands Geological Survey Division


Figure 1 Delegates from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau during the DENR Scholar's Congress 2019 Gala Night.


Figure 2 MGB delegates in the DENR Scholar's Congress 2019, signing the Pledge of Commitment.