Isabela State University (ISU) continues to be a pioneer in water-related R&D initiatives in the ASEAN Region through a Stakeholders’ Forum on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Cagayan Valley Region on January 26, 2026 at the University’s Climate Change R&D Facility.
The development-focused information exchange was participated by international partners from Kyoto University, representatives from the regional line agencies such as Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Agriculture (DA), technical personnel from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and SN Aboitiz Power, executive staff from Local Government Units (LGUs), and directors and water resource engineers from the University.
In his message, Dr. Boyet L. Batang (University President) underscored that ISU’s research excellence is firmly anchored in its strong and enduring collaboration with Kyoto University. He noted that this partnership has enabled both institutions to serve as trailblazers in advancing IWRM approaches in the Cagayan Valley region and across the ASEAN community.
Echoing this commitment, Prof. Sameh Ahmed Kantoush of Kyoto University expressed his optimism for expanded R&D collaborations that will continue to bring science, technology, and innovation-driven solutions to flooding, sedimentation, and river basin management challenges.
The forum featured a specialized lecture series by Japanese and local experts highlighting the importance of IWRM in building resilient river basin communities, particularly in the Cagayan River Basin. Presentations covered basin-scale adaptation strategies, post-flood survey insights from Vietnam and the Philippines, and the application of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for flood prediction, monitoring, and hazard mapping.
Complementing these international perspectives, ISU, through Dr. Orlando F. Balderama (Vice President for Research and Development, Extension and Training), showcased its IWRM-focused research and development initiatives that have produced technologies, models, and policy-relevant outputs now utilized across ASEAN communities. He highlighted the role of academia and its synergy with the community and the industry to advance sustainable water management.
Through its expanding network of local, regional, and international partners, the University continues to advance initiatives that integrate environmental sustainability into institutional development to reinforce its position as a smart and green university within the global academic community.
