By Jennielou Pigao

Mariano Marcos State University sealed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of the Philippines-Manila (UPM) National Institutes of Health-Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH-ICHHD) on May 22 at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Hall Conference Room.

Signed by MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis; MMSU Research and Innovation Vice President Nathaniel Alibuyog; UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee, represented by Dr. Michelle Ylade of UP-NIH; and Mr. Jimmy Loro of Deutsche Gessellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the MoU paves the way for the project “Effects of Climate Change on Health: Data from the Philippines,” aimed at providing up-to-date local data on the effects of climate change parameters on health. Other officials of the two universities and the CCC witnessed the signing ceremony.

In her message, President Agrupis expressed her gratitude to UP-NIH for their commitment and dedication. She acknowledged the two universities’ role in advancing knowledge on climate change through research and information dissemination. She also stated her desire to explore possibilities for more partnerships. Home to the Regional Research and Training Center for Climate Change Studies (RRTCCS), MMSU is a leader in agricultural and climate change research. Dr. Alibuyog is a member of the National Panel of Technical Experts of the Climate Change Commission (CCC).