Dr. Orlando F. Balderama, Vice President for Research and Development, Extension and Training, and Project Leader of all water-related R&D initiatives in the University, highlighted that the Cagayan River Basin functions as a huge laboratory for graduate students where interdisciplinary researches on land and water resources may emerge. Afterwards, Dr. Artemio A. Martin Jr., Dean of the Central Graduate School, gave proper acknowledgment to all the professionals in the advanced studies program as participants of the colloquium.

The highlights of the research colloquium were the presentations of the Japanese top researchers from the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University (DPRI-KU). Dr. Khagendra Pralhad Bharambe, a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Water Resource Research Institute, began his presentation by displaying some evidence of ISU and Kyoto University’s R&D collaborative activities. He also presented his research on “Spatio-Temporal Impacts of Climate Change over the Cagayan River Basin, Philippines” to accentuate the need to address the impacts of extreme hydroclimatic events in the country. On the other hand, Engr. Hikaru Goto, MS student in Kyoto University, stressed the need for improvement measures to proactively respond to the effects of Magat Dam sedimentation, thereby optimizing its operation rules. Furthermore, Dr. Sameh Ahmed Kantoush, Associate Professor in DPRI-KU, discussed the topic on “Integrated Flood and Sediment Management at the River Basin Scale” in which he emphasized the need for urgent interventions, particularly on risk communication with key dimensions such as rainfall-runoff forecasting, socio-economic impacts, flood risk communication, and flood mitigation measures.

Moreover, Dr. Lanie A. Alejo, Director for Water Resources Research and Development Center, also presented the topic on “Water Resources and River Basin Research and Development Agenda”. Specifically, she justified the urgent call to address the gaps or issues on water resources management in Region 2 through science-based interventions which are embedded in each key research project of the program on “Smart Water Infrastructure and Management”. Bringing the University to a global landscape, Dr. Isagani P. Angeles Jr., University Director for Public Affairs and External Linkages, also presented the details of the “2nd International Conference on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Management” on March 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand, particularly its objectives, expected outputs, conference design, organizers, scope of paper presentation, and timeline of activities.

Finally, Dr. Jeoffrey Lloyd R. Bareng, University Director for Research and Development, concluded the knowledge sharing activity by initially appreciating the beauty of Japanese as one of the University’s international stakeholders. “This event further opened our minds and eyes to the facts and truths, so that together, we can help in securing and sustaining a more risk-free and prosperous future”, he added. With the internationalization efforts that ISU continuously undertake to optimize knowledge sharing across academic community, the gateways for multidisciplinary research on climate change and water management were opened to all professionals in various fields of specializations.