NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – The Society of Environmental Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (SEEP) held its 11th Annual National Conference and General Assembly on July 2-4, 2019 at Sugarland Hotel, Bacolod City with the theme “Engineering with Nature: Innovations for Environmental Sustainability.”
The said conference was an opportunity to enable networking of information and foster partnership amongst the community, academe, industry, and other stakeholders on the latest trends in the practice of environmental engineering.
Dr. Robert Y. So, Chairman of the Board of Ecosystem Technologies International Incorporated, highlighted in his keynote speech the importance of water reclamation, recycling, and reuse for water security in the Philippines. He likewise emphasized in his message the dissimilarity of “engineering nature” and “engineering with nature.”
“We intend to engineer with nature because we are now humbled before the powers and forces that govern it. Over the past century, we have developed an arrogance enough to believe that we are engineering nature itself. We have indeed tried, but not without incurring grave consequences to our own ability as a species to survive on this planet; as nature affects all aspects of our lives: from the global economy, to our day-to-day living conditions.” He said.
Moreover, this year’s theme was futher elaborated by series of plenary sessions and talks from prominent invited experts to speak before the environmental engineers and practicitioners who attended the event.
Dr. Francoise Orban of University of Namur in Belgium shared her expertise and knowledge about the participatory methods in environmental management and planning. Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Antonia Tanchuling of the Philippine Association of Tertiary Level Educational Institutions in Environmental Protection and Management tackled about the role of the academe in environmental sustainability.
Engr. Susan Benitez of Asian Alcohol Corporation shared in her talk the best environmental practices of distilleries, while, Dr. Raymond Sugcang of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute talked about nuclear-based analysis for environmental engineering applications.
Futhermore, Dr. Florencio Ballesteros, Jr. of the University of the Philippines – Diliman discussed about e-waste or the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE); Dr. Michael Angelo Promentilla of De La Salle University in Manila talked about closing the loop from waste management to circular economy; and Dr. Alvin Caparanga of Mapúa University spoke about the current state of post-combustion carbon capture.
Aside from the plenary lectures of the invited speakers, several environmental engineering and management research outputs were also presented in the said conference where Dr. Renato O. Arazo of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) – Claveria was adjudged Best Paper Presenter. He likewise grabbed the Best Paper award together with Dr. Alexander L. Ido of USTP-Claveria and Engr. Allen Rhay B. Bayanatong of UP-Diliman.
During the General Assembly Meeting, Dr. Jihan H. Adil, the Society’s National President, delivered her President’s Report and updated the body regarding the status and updates about the proposed Environmental Engineering Law. Though in her report she informed the members that the bill was not passed in the 17th Congress, she expressed her strong will as the SEEP National President that the fight for the recognition of the environmental engineering as a separate engineering profession here in the Philippines continues in the 18th Congress.
The 11th National Conference and General Assembly of the SEEP is hosted by SEEP – Negros Chapter. The next annual conference will be held in Cagayan de Oro City which will be sponsored by the SEEP – Northern Mindanao Chapter in cooperation with the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines and the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology. #
Some captured moments during the 11th SEEP NatCon
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