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Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Mapúan climate diplomat bags TOFIL 2019 award

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Mapúa University alumnus and climate diplomat and scientist Glenn Banaguas is a recipient of this year’s The Outstanding Filipino award.

He is one of the “six nation-builders” honored by the Junior Chamber International for his exemplary contributions in environment conservation and science diplomacy.

Banaguas has been providing progressive researches to various provinces and local government units to help them incorporate climate science in their development programs.

Mapúa University alumnus and climate diplomat  and scientist Glenn Banaguas
Mapúa University alumnus and climate diplomat and scientist Glenn Banaguas

The Mapúa chemical engineering alumnus was recognized along with five other awardees, including San Miguel Corp. president and CEO Ramon Ang (business and entrepreneurship), Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal (government/public service), Dr. Joselito Chavez (medicine), Virgilio Malang (science and technology) and Nelly Siababa-Aggangan (agriculture).

“Research is my life. I have been conducting research for free, donating my salary to bring science and policy to the communities. It is a covenant and commitment to save them from the wrath of climate crises and disaster risks,” Banaguas said.

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With his team of researchers, he also extends information on climate change to cultivate disaster resiliency.

“I think it has been my gift to laymanize and translate terms into a language that even the local people understand. I personally believe that because it’s not just about communicating, but also assuring that the people grasp the information and act upon it,” he said.

Banaguas founded the Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute in 2010 where he started the Climate Smart and Disaster Resilient Philippines program to promote science diplomacy and scientific capacity building especially to the marginalized sector.

The program already reached out to more than 500 local government units, 200 universities and colleges, 200 CSOs and NGOs and 200 members of the private sector.

“For me these are not enough because the Philippines has 135 cities, 1,493 municipalities, 81 provinces and 42,000 barangays. I haven’t gone to other places yet, so I’m aiming to accomplish all of them,” he said.

Banaguas is the chair of ASEAN Science Diplomats—a group of engineers and scientists in Southeast Asia providing trainings on science-based policymaking and policy development.

He is also a professor teaching Environmental Management System at Enrique T. Yuchengco School of Business and Management in Mapúa.

The TOFIL award is a public recognition of men and women, 41 years age and over, whose exemplary achievements are worthy of emulation. It was institutionalized by the Junior Chamber International.

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