The UPLB Office for International Linkages will lead UP delegates in the 2022 Asian Students Environmental Platform (ASEP). The main program will be held virtually on August 2-4, 2022, with the theme “SATOYAMA, Our Future Commons.”. Ten students from different UP CUs will take part together with Asst. Prof. Anna Orillo, the International Relations Officer (IRO) of UPLB College of Human Ecology (CHE). WASEDA University, Japan is the host institution this year.

Organized by the AEON Environmental Foundation with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the program aims to: learn about each nation’s natural environment and values; engage in a transnational discussion concerning the global environment; and cultivate talented individuals in the field of the environment who will flourish in the global stage.

Last year, UPLB, through OIL, was also the lead unit of UP for ASEP. The host university was Universitas Indonesia and the theme was “Building recycling society.” The main program was held last August 9-11, 2021.

A total of 100 students from 10 participating universities in Asia took part in the three-day virtual program, 10 of them from various UP constituent universities. Dr. Analyn L. Codilan, associate professor and International Relations Officer from CFNR served as the facilitator for UP.

Ten groups consisting of one student per participating university and one facilitator were formed before the start of the program. The participants held online group meetings during the two prior learnings and team self-studies scheduled before the main program. They developed their final presentation with the subject “How can we create a recycle society?” for the last day of the program.

Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, Director-General of Solid Waste, Ministry of Environment and Forestry from the Republic of Indonesia, was the keynote speaker on day 1. She highlighted Indonesia’s experiences and approaches in reducing waste products, which include reducing waste from upstream. That is, providing a regulation roadmap of waste reduction by producers which guides and facilitates them in solid waste management. She added that Indonesia has banned single-use plastics in 55 cities or districts and 2 provinces.

Virtual lectures on solid waste management were held during days 1 and 2 of the program. Virtual field trips on the solid waste management system in Indonesia and about the recycling society were also held on day 2.

For the last day of the program, the 10 groups were given 10 minutes each for their final presentations. Past participants of ASEP and students from each participating university comprised the audience for the third day.

Group F, mentored by UPLB’s Dr. Analyn L. Codilan and with Ms. Harriet Elaine R. Limpot, BS Mechanical Engineering from UP Diliman, won the Grand Prix Award. Group A led by Carlos Miguel G. Parto, BS Human Ecology from UPLB, and Group G with Hanz Lawrenz E. Sorolla, BS Forestry from UPLB, won the Audience Favorite Award. (MDCVelasco)