UST-ChES Holds Environmental Awareness Seminar

news by Queen Desiree Dalisay, Darwin Eugenio, John Edward Dupaya

photos by Darwin Eugenio

In line with an increasing demand for environmental awareness and sustainability, the UST Chemical Engineering Society – Community Development Committee (UST-ChES ComDev) held an environmental awareness seminar last November 12 aptly titled “TRAVERSE: Transformation vs Environment - A Chemical Engineer’s Responsibility on Environmental Awareness”.

The event was conceptualized by its project heads, John Andre San Miguel of 5ChE-A and Sam Denielle Tugaoen of 2ChE-D, both members of the Community Development Committee of UST-ChES. The project heads successfully managed to invite five distinguished guest speakers coming from various environment-related government agencies. The seminar was held at the Engineering Conference Hall of the University of Santo Tomas.

Engr. Dolores Velasquez focused on the Clean Air Act

The Speakers and Their Topics

The first speaker, Engr. Dolores Velasquez, OIC, Chief – Air Quality Management System of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) discussed the Clean Air Act and its relevance to the chemical engineering profession. She mainly emphasized the role of chemical engineers in preventing or curtailing air pollution. Engr. She emphasized that chemical engineers are often in the managerial position in a process and, aside from the sanitary engineers, chemical engineers can also sign the Air Quality Status Reports. She also explained the different testing parameters for the quality of air.

Engr. Divine Camarao focused on the Clean Water Act

She was succeeded by her partner, Engr. Divina “Divine” Camarao who proceeded to discuss the Philippine Clean Water Act and how the chemical engineering profession can be of great use to the wastewater treatment industry. The two engineers served as the first batch of speakers for Topic 1: “Chemical Engineer’s Role for the Environment”.

A 4th-year student asking a question in the first open forum.

Before the first batch of speakers was given a token of appreciation, a short open forum was held. Afterwards, a short intermission song number was performed by Gio Castillo and Pauline Losaria of the UST-ChES Performance and Recreations Committee.

Gio Castillo (seated) and Pauline Losaria (standing, right) performing
an intermission song number.

John Andre San Miguel (center-back) awarding the certificates to the two engineers.

The two engineers were succeeded by the next speaker, Rasheilla Yanina T. Antasuda, an Environmental Management Specialist II of the DENR-EMB. She mainly discussed Hazardous Waste Management and how chemical engineers can help implement Republic Act 6969 - "Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990."

Ms. Rasheilla Antasuda discussing RA 6969

An open forum for Ms. Rasheilla Antasuda

A game was held as an ice-breaker before the last set of speakers were called.

After a brief open forum for students with inquiries directed to Ms. Antasuda, a short intermission game was held to lighten up the mood of the conference attendees. Game winners won prizes supplied by event sponsors M Lhuillier and Clothesline. Afterwards, the last batch of speakers whose topics cover Nuclear Awareness and Nuclear Environmental Applications was introduced by the emcees. Engr. Haydee M. Solomon of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) discussed the applications of irradiation to the wastewater treatment industry. Her senior partner, Dr. Vangeline Kinilitan Parami, Ph. D., discussed about nuclear energy and its distinctiveness compared to coal and oil-based energy.

 Engr. Haydee Solomon (top) and Dr. Vangeline Parami Ph.D (bottom)

The last open forum for the third batch of speakers was held afterwards. A group photo was taken before the event was formally closed by the singing of the UST hymn.

A photo collage of the events that transpired during the last open forum session.

Reaction of the Project Heads

Being quite an environmentalist herself, Sam Tugaoen of 2ChE-D, one of the two project heads, is optimistic that the seminar instilled a lot on the minds of her fellow chemical engineering students just as much as it did in hers. She hopes that the seminar left an imprint on the minds of the attendees, take what they heard and put it into action, for they will primarily be agents of the environment.  She also said, “As chemical engineers, dapat tumutulong tayo sa mga ways [to reduce pollution], yung knowledge natin, dapat gamitin natin to help our environment and our country.”

John Andre San Miguel of 5ChE-A, one of the two project heads, expressed immense gratitude to all the people, friends and co-members of ChES, who helped in the event. “[Thank you so much] to my supportive friends na nagpromise umattend kahit busy sila[,] to all those who attended the seminar. [Hindi] talaga ako makapaniwala napuno yung [Engineering] Conference Hall.” he said in social media.

Throughout the entire seminar, plenty of advice and explanations about the need of awareness in the environment was given to future chemical engineer majors. The main overarching theme, giving importance in protecting the environment, was successfully discussed by the three batches of speakers.