County of citizenship: Philippines
Qualification: Bachelor of Science in Forestry (De La Salle Araneta University, Philippines)
Most recent position: Ecosystem Management Specialist, Dept of Environment and Natural Resources.
First year of scholarship: 2017
“My formal training on environmental conservation and management started when I was in university. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry in 2002, and my knowledge back then was confined and mostly acquired through lectures and textbooks. I joined the Philippine government’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) eventually and was exposed to responsibilities related to the implementation of environmental policies, and enhancement of the quality of environmental sustainability in the country. In hindsight, joining this agency made me realise that passion combined with dedication, thirst to learn and contribution environmental conservation would drive my career and future life goals.
The opportunity to receive further training in this field will further enhance my knowledge, understanding and exposure to Integrated Water Resource Management. I will use this to serve as platform for interaction with other students from other countries to exchange ideas on how to address the mounting problems in wetlands conservation and management, particularly those applicable to the Philippines setting. This degree will also build my confidence in implementing holistic and integrated approaches and equip me with the technical know-how to conceptualise, design and plan activities that can help my agency in achieving its goals. I can foresee that my expanded knowledge could later on be shared and transferred to my colleagues in the DENR and to our partner agencies and organisations as well.
Upon completion of the degree, I plan to immediately return to the Philippines. I am aspiring to be a front-runner in helping achieve the vision and mission of the Philippine Wetland Conservation and Management through continuing to work with the BMB-DENR. Harnessing the involvement of each Filipino in the conservation and sustainable resource management of the Philippine River Basin and Wetlands is the necessary change I am envisioning for the future of my country. I will also focus sharing my knowledge and experiences with my colleagues, and we can then initiate public awareness campaigns to enhance consciousness of the Filipino people, particularly the youth, for wetland conservation management.  The experience will cement my personal commitment towards a sustainable environment not only for the Philippines but also for the entire world in general.”
