USM KEPLRC Director, Elected as Vice Chairperson of PLAI HOD
December 1, 2025
The University of Southern Mindanao (USM) brought home several awards during the 1st Mindanao Forum on Water and Natural Resources held on November 26–28, 2025 at Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City, placing the university among the top performers.
USM delegates earned strong recognition across several categories. Dr. Romiel John P. Basan took 1st place in the oral presentation for the Socio-Economic Conditions and Livelihood Management theme. Dr. Jennet R. Mag-aso placed 2nd in the oral presentation under the Water Quality and Watershed Resilience theme, while Dr. Carlito P. Basay Jr. secured 3rd place in the same category.
In the poster competition, the team of Mr. Rezin G. Cabantug and Dr. Mag-aso won 1st place under Water Quality and Watershed Resilience. Prof. Leonila V. Papalid also presented under Inland Capture Fisheries and Biodiversity and served as one of the judges in the poster contest for the water quality theme. Basay and Basan likewise represented USM in the policy pitch competition.
The USM Kidapawan City Campus (USM-KCC) posted strong finishes as well. The team working on the Tampakan–Lutayan Watershed, a tributary of Lake Buluan, earned 3rd place in the poster category under Water Quality and Watershed Resilience for their study on land use, soil erosion, flora and fauna, water quality, and socio-economic conditions of the area. Another USM-KCC research secured 2nd place under Inland Capture Fisheries for its assessment of fish abundance, species diversity, and local fishing practices in Lake Buluan.
The forum gathered researchers, local government units, and community partners across Mindanao to highlight science-based policy development and cooperation on inland water resource management. The event was anchored on Phase 1 of the Mindanao, Sulu, Palawan – Innovative Research and Development Consortium (MinSuPala–IRDC), which conducted comprehensive assessments of major lakes and rivers such as Lake Lanao, Lake Buluan, Lake Sebu, Rio Grande de Mindanao, Ligawasan Marsh, and Pulangi River.
Discussions throughout the three-day activity centered on water quality, fisheries, biodiversity, watershed conditions, and the socio-economic realities of communities reliant on these ecosystems. Presenters also tackled pollution, fish decline, invasive species, land conversion, and the effects of shifting weather patterns on households and local livelihoods.
USM also played a key role in the technical conduct of the event. The scientific committee included USM’s Dr. Lydia C. Pascual as Head of the Scientific Committee, Dr. Carlito P. Basay Jr. as Head Rapporteur, Mr. Benjie B. Mari as Moderator, and rapporteurs Ms. Hannah Daphne B. Presto, Mr. Mervin M. Cheng, Ms. Lady Ann M. Turiaga, and Ms. Regine N. Lenis.
The forum concluded with a policy workshop led by Dr. Guillermo Q. Tabios III of the University of the Philippines Diliman and Dr. Geraldo S. Petilla of the National Research Council of the Philippines, focusing on how research outputs can guide planning and local program development.
