UP-IESM

16/10/2026

Congratulations to IESM and Dr. Mylene G. Cayetano on their recognition at the 2026 Bantayog ng Lawa Awards!

The Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) received the Bantayog Para sa Kaunlaran Award for the AI-SWAMP project led by Mayzonee V. Ligaray, PhD.

Meanwhile, Mylene G. Cayetano, RcH, PhD, was honored with the Kababaihan ng Lawa Award for her contributions to the protection and sustainable management of Laguna de Bay.

Both recognitions were conferred by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (Official) (LLDA) during the 3rd Bantayog ng Lawa Awards on 16 October 2026 in Quezon City.

15/10/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: Thesis proposal of Mr. Mark Joseph William D. Ducusin will be on Friday, 13 November 2026, 10:00 AM via Zoom. His paper is entitled "Tropical Cyclone Hazards and their Impacts on Disaster Risk Reduction Infrastructure and Population in the Philippines".

Thesis Proposal Committee:
(Adviser) Bernard Alan B. Racoma, PhD
(Reader) Rafaela Jane P. Delfino, PhD

Please attend. Thank you.

14/10/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: Thesis proposal of Mr. Thed Dominic M. Ramos will be on Friday, 06 November 2026, 10:00 AM via Zoom. His paper is entitled "Characterizing Long-term Trends and ENSO-related Variability of Reference Evapotranspiration and its Meteorological Controls Across Luzon, Philippines".

Thesis Proposal Committee:
(Adviser) Mayzonee V. Ligaray, PhD
(Co-Adviser) Rafaela Jane P. Delfino, PhD
(Reader) Flaviana D. Hilario, PhD

Please attend. Thank you.

14/10/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: Thesis proposal of Mr. Ivann Carlo S. Danao will be on Wednesday, 04 November 2026, 9:00 AM via Zoom. His paper is entitled "Analysis of the Seasonal Size-Intensity Relationship Among Tropical Cyclones in the Philippine Area of Responsibility".

Thesis Proposal Committee:
(Adviser) Rafaela Jane P. Delfino, PhD
(Reader) Gerry Bagtasa, PhD

Please attend. Thank you.

12/10/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: Thesis proposal of Mr. Gabriel T. Mesina will be on Monday, 26 October 2026, 11:00 AM via Zoom. His paper is entitled "Assessment of Meteorological Factors Associated with Tropical Cyclone Induced Rice Damage Using Remotely Sensed Vegetation Indices in the Cagayan Valley".

Thesis Proposal Committee:
(Adviser) Bernard Alan B. Racoma, PhD
(Reader) Ralph Sedricke C. Lapuz, PhD

Please attend. Thank you.

09/10/2026

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. Leoncio “Sir Ama” Amadore

The Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM), University of the Philippines Diliman, mourns the passing of Dr. Leoncio “Sir Ama” Amadore, former lecturer and alumnus of the Institute, who passed away on 8 October 2026.

As an alumnus of the former Department of Meteorology (DMO), Sir Ama maintained a lasting connection with the Institute, later serving for many years as a lecturer in Meteorology courses. Through his knowledge, experience, and dedication to teaching, he contributed to the academic formation of generations of Meteorology students.

IESM remembers with gratitude his years of service and his enduring contributions to the Institute and its academic community.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, former colleagues, students, and all those whose lives he touched.

May his legacy of learning, teaching, and service continue to inspire others.

May he rest in peace.

06/10/2026

Congratulations to Kisha Pungsayan, MS Environmental Science student at IESM, on successfully presenting her research at the 2026 Biodiversity Science Forum organized by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!

Her study, titled “Remote sensing-based biodiversity indicators of marine mammal strandings in Lingayen Gulf from 2018 to 2025,” was co-authored with Dr. R. Sedricke Lapuz and Dr. Lemnuel Aragones.

In their study, they explore whether remote sensing-based biodiversity indicators can help predict how, when, and where marine mammal strandings occur in Lingayen Gulf.

02/10/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: Thesis defense of Mr. Ivan Michael B. Gabriel will be on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, 10:00 AM at the IESM Auditorium, IESM Building. His paper is entitled "Baseline and Future Hydrologic Response Assessment of the Cavite River Basin Using Proxy Streamflow Data for SWAT Model Calibration and Scenario Analysis”.

Thesis Defense Committee:
(Adviser) Mayzonee V. Ligaray, PhD
(Reader) Cherry L. Ringor, PhD
(Examiner) Rafaela Jane P. Delfino, PhD
(Examiner) Charles John C. Gunay, PhD

Please attend. Thank you.

02/10/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: Thesis defense of Mr. Renzo Val G. Agapito will be on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, 10:00 AM at the IESM Auditorium, IESM Building (hybrid). His paper is entitled "Assessing the Impact of Agriculture on the Diversity of Groundwater Microbial Communities in Nueva Ecija, Philippines”.

Thesis Defense Committee:
(Adviser) Marie Christine M. Obusan, PhD
(Co-Adviser) Daniel Edison M. Husana, PhD
(Reader) Mayzonee V. Ligaray, PhD
(Examiner) Stephanie O. Sangalang, PhD
(Examiner) Shakil Saghir, PhD

Please attend. Thank you.

01/10/2026