A Call to Address the Challenges of Climate Change and Sustainable Development- International and Local Science Experts
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In the recently concluded Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA)-National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) Workshop and 2016 Climate Conference, the Resolutions Committee of the workshop-conference recommended various actions in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and sustainable development. The international workshop themed on the “Role of Science Academies in Sustainable Development” was held in conjunction with the 5th National Climate Conference on “Addressing Climate Risk for Sustainable Development.”
The 11-point resolution was submitted to Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, and Climate Change Commission’s Secretary Emmanuel M. de Guzman during the closing and awarding ceremonies of the workshop-conference. The resolution recommended that national governments provide adequate financial resources to the national academies and societies of science to carry out their mission, especially in relation to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) proclaimed by the United Nations.
The Resolutions Committee cited the importance of attaining these SDGs by 2030 and emphasized the threat of climate change on the ability of Asian nations in meeting these goals. Specifically, the resolution calls on these nations to:
1. strengthen the participation of national academies and societies of science in the design, implementation, and monitoring of the sustainable development initiatives of Asian countries;
2. foster participation of young scientists in sustainable development research;
3. emphasize and promote multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research;
4. increase support for climate modeling research to better understand how and to what extent climate change will affect various sectors of society;
5. study the role of financial instruments in helping small holder farmers and fishers adapt to a changing climate;
6. support the academic development of researchers engaged in climate change and sustainable development research;
7. establish a network of learning sites where the impacts of climate change and sustainable development can be monitored in the long term;
8. promote the implementation of science-based climate risk transfer measures, such as weather index-based insurance;
9. intensify and support programs for environmental values and changes in lifestyle for inclusion in school curricula;
10. communicate climate change and sustainable development issues and research findings using print and electronic media to all levels of society; and
11. disseminate scientific knowledge on sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk management in appropriate forms to government leaders and policymakers, private sector leaders and all concerned stakeholders.
2. foster participation of young scientists in sustainable development research;
3. emphasize and promote multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research;
4. increase support for climate modeling research to better understand how and to what extent climate change will affect various sectors of society;
5. study the role of financial instruments in helping small holder farmers and fishers adapt to a changing climate;
6. support the academic development of researchers engaged in climate change and sustainable development research;
7. establish a network of learning sites where the impacts of climate change and sustainable development can be monitored in the long term;
8. promote the implementation of science-based climate risk transfer measures, such as weather index-based insurance;
9. intensify and support programs for environmental values and changes in lifestyle for inclusion in school curricula;
10. communicate climate change and sustainable development issues and research findings using print and electronic media to all levels of society; and
11. disseminate scientific knowledge on sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk management in appropriate forms to government leaders and policymakers, private sector leaders and all concerned stakeholders.
Filling the Gaps on Folic Acid Insufficiency: Legislation, Implementation, and Intervention
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The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) gathered stakeholders from the health and nutrition sector, representatives from the legislative body and other concerned government agencies, the academe, the private sector, and the pharmaceutical industry on June 28 at Hotel Jen Manila for a Science Legislative Forum (SLF) on Folic Acid.
The objectives of the SLF were to review the global and Philippine burden of neural tube defects; review the burden of folic acid deficiency and insufficiency in the Philippines; review evidence for, impacts of, and safety of increasing folic acid intake; review experiences in increasing folic acid intake globally and in the Philippines; to orient the variousstakeholders on the proposed legislations on folicacid supplementation and fortification; and discuss the role of government agencies, the academe, and the private sector.The participants of the legislative forum were welcomed by Academician (Acd.) Fabian M. Dayrit, acting president of NAST PHL. One of the mandates of NAST PHL is to serve as an adviser to the government and the scientific community on policy formulation. Through the initiatives of Acd. Carmencita D. Padilla, member of the Health Sciences Division (HSD) of NAST PHL and focal person of the SLF on Folic Acid, the Rare Disease Act or the Republic Act No. 10747 was signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III. Its stakeholders can be traced from a successful legislative forum that captured cohesive inputs for the advocacy of the said act.
As there no are existing folic acid fortification efforts in the Philippines and supplementation efforts have achieved low coverage, there is a need to put a comprehensive policy in place not only to increase the awareness and knowledge on how folic acid can prevent NTDs but also to improve the maternal health of every Filipino mother and woman of child-bearing age; hence the conduct of a legislative forum for folic acid fortification and supplementation, Acd. Dayrit stressed.
Folate is a B-vitamin that plays a significant role in preventing birth defects particularly of the baby’s brain and spine, which are collectively known as neural tube defects (NTDs). Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate that occurs in fortification and supplementation.
National Scientist Edgardo Gomez received honoris causa from DLSU
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For his pioneering works and invaluable contributions to marine biology, National Scientist (NS) Edgardo Dizon Gomez was conferred the honorary degree Doctor of Science during the 176th commencement exercises of De La Salle University (DLSU), held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) last June 18.
“...as a marine biologist, my focus has been on our oceans and coasts, specifically the coral reefs and important invertebrates. Indeed, the focus on their conservation and my relative successes contributed largely to my being honored today with a Degree of Science, a distinction that precious few individuals obtain. Indeed, this is an unexpected honor, but an honor that vindicates my pursuing a career in marine biology and conservation...” NS Gomez mentioned in his commencement speech.
Invertebrate biology and ecology, true giant clam (Tridacna gigas) culture and restoration, and coral reef assessment and conservation are among the noteworthy contributions of NS Gomez that resulted in applications of public, industrial, and scientific significance.
He also led the world’s first national-scale assessment of coral reefs leading to international conservation initiatives such as coral reef rehabilitation.
In 1993, he was elected to the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) as Academician and was conferred the Order of National Scientist in 2014. ~Ana Loren B. Durana