On August 29, 2023, a collaboration meeting between the ERDB-THWRDEC and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), one of its primary stakeholders, was held at ERLSD Conference Room, ERLSD Building, DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. Part of the meeting was the presentation of the results of the completed project titled, “Heavy Metal Contamination and Spatial Distribution of Soil in Selected Urban Areas in the Philippines”. Mr. Josel B. Godezano, Senior Science Research Specialist, acted as the presenter of the project results.

Relatively, the project focused on determining the status of soil heavy metal contamination in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Lipa City, Batangas, and Calamba City, Laguna. Furthermore, the project aimed to determine the potential ecological risk associated with heavy metals and the spatial distribution of heavy metals in soils. Mr. Godezano shared the methodology and major highlights/results of the study. Subsequently, representatives from EMB showed interest in the methods used in the study. Comments and suggestions were provided that could improve the implementation and results of the ongoing Phase 2 of the project.

On the other hand, Mr. Roger C. Evangelista, Jr., OIC Chief, Environmental Research Section, Environmental Research and Laboratory Services Division, presented the ongoing research projects of EMB for possible collaboration with ERDB. In the end, the THWRDEC Team assured the EMB-ERLSD that ERDB  through its Technical Divisions and RDECs  can provide technical assistance based on the expertise needed for  EMB’s projects. For. Jon Simon P. Medrano/Training Specialist I, For. Krizzia B. Ferrer/Science Research Specialist II, Marleane Rovi F. Pestaño/Supervising Science Research Specialist, THWRDEC

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