Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino, President of Isabela State University, led the 12-man Philippine delegation from Isabela State University and National Irrigation Administration at the 3rd International Workshop on Bypass Sediment Tunnels (BST) held at National Taiwan University (NTU), Taiwan on April 9 to 12, 2019.

Attended by more than 100 participants from six countries, the workshop was convened at National Taiwan University to discuss and share experiences on watershed and reservoir management as well as on the newest BST-related topics. A two-day post-workshop technical tour in the Shihmen, Baihe, and Zengwen reservoirs were also held after the workshop.

Dr. Aquino presented a plenary paper titled, “Role of Universities in Watershed and Reservoir Management under Changing Climate: The Case of Isabela State University (ISU), Philippines” in which he shared some initiatives of the University such as institutionalization of water resource and climate change centers, mainstreaming of water-oriented climate change adaptation and disaster risk management as compulsory requirement in undergraduate, and graduate curriculum and establishment of off-campus ‘learning watershed laboratory in Cagayan River Basin which served as research venue for students and researchers.

Side-event meetings were also held among the Philippine delegation, Water Resources Agency of Taiwan, and Kyoto University’s Disaster Prevention Research Institute. Kyoto University extends its invitation for partnership with Isabela State University on Education and R&D collaboration.