DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Jan. 30 (PIA) -- Silliman University (SU) participated in this year’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Multistakeholder Forum in Visayas as a panelist to discuss how the DENR can partner with the academe for environmental initiatives.

DENR gathered over 250 participants from national and local governments, academic and scientific institutions, civil society, and the private sector for the forum's second edition in the Visayas.

SU President Betty McCann shared the university’s own initiatives on environmental protection and conservation, such as its zero waste approach to waste management, use of renewable energy, and the implementation of the SU Environmental Principles, Policies, and Guidelines.

SU also supports academic and student-led programs, projects, and research related to the environment, sustainability, and biodiversity.

“Silliman University has taken off because of the collective effort of the Silliman community, its alumni, and friends to protect the environment and our natural resources. We want to strengthen and share these initiatives with more communities until one day, being ‘green’ becomes the norm in our country. To achieve this, the government’s support is crucial,” said McCann.

The DENR also aims to foster partnerships with and among stakeholders who can co-implement Roadmap for Programs, Activities and Projects (PAPs) concerning the environment and natural resources (ENR).

After the forum, DENR is expected to produce the Resiliency Framework for ENR which will serve as the foundation for ENR policies that are science-based, data-driven, and socially, politically, and culturally sensitive.

The Resiliency Framework for ENR will also guide corresponding PAPs that will be co-implemented by the government and non-government actors. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from Melita Aguilar of SU)