UPD Department of Geography and USAID-Protect Wildlife partner for Watershed Management in Palawan and General Santos City

by: Bernardino Dela Cruz

The Geography 192 field class for the midyear term of 2019 served as the platform of the partnership between the UPD Department of Geography and USAID-Protect Wildlife. The project aimed to accomplish the following objectives:

1) To perform a participatory 3-dimensional mapping (P3DM) of watersheds with high school students;

2) To create an audio visual presentation that will showcase the everyday geographies of communities within watersheds; and 

3) To create a localized teaching guide that will help senior high school teachers and students in learning watershed management. 

Geography 192 is a course-based extension program of the Department of Geography that enables its undergraduate students and faculty to engage in research and local development planning processes. Since its institutionalization, the program has assisted more than 70 local government units, civil society organizations, and various institutions.

From July 1 to July 9, 2019, students of Geography 192 class implemented the project in Palawan and General Santos City. 

In Rizal, Palawan, the participatory 3-dimensional mapping of the Malambunga watershed was held in cooperation with Jose P. Rizal National High School and the local government of Rizal, Palawan.

P3DM of the Malambunga Watershed in Rizal, Palawan

Students of Jose P. Rizal National High School and the Geography 192 team working on the P3DM of the Malambunga Watershed in Rizal, Palawan

Meanwhile, the participatory 3-dimensional mapping of the K’lajaWatershed in General Santos City was performed in cooperation with its local government and Antonino G. Busano Sr. High School.

P3DM of the K’laja Watershed in General Santos City

Geography 192 team together with the P3DM of the K’laja Watershed in Antonino G. Busano Sr. High School in General Santos City

A video showing the P3DM process can be accessed through this link: https://tinyurl.com/TeamGensanP3DM

The outputs of the project will serve as tools in integrating watershed management in secondary education to advance community-based efforts to benefit the local environment and its people.