Officials from the University of Rizal System (URS) joined a crucial multi-stakeholder engagement event focused on climate and disaster resilience governance on Tuesday, August 27, 2025, at the Hilton, Manila Hotel.
Dr. Marites Rio, VP for RDEP , represents URS in the TRANSFORM MOA signing. With her are Mayor Tanjuatco of Tanay and BuCor
The event, titled 2025 Project TRANSFORM (Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience and Environmental Sustainability through Multistakeholder Engagement), carried the theme, “From Science to Action: Local Government Units (LGUs) at the Forefront of Climate and Disaster Resilience Governance.”
Representing the University of Rizal System were Dr. Marites Rio, Vice President for Research Development, Extension, and Production (RDEP); Dr. Esther Recla, Head of the Environmental Education and Biodiversity Research Center (EEBRC); and Ms. Rheybel De Lemon, Planning Officer I.
A significant highlight of the event was the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing for the implementation of Project TRANSFORM in the Municipality of Tanay, Rizal. This collaborative agreement unites several key partners, signaling a unified approach to climate action at the local level. The signatories included the University of Rizal System (URS), the Municipality of Tanay, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), A. Brown Company, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Province of Rizal. The signing officially launches the project in Tanay, which is expected to utilize a transdisciplinary approach to create concrete, sustainable, and community-driven solutions for environmental and climate-related challenges.
Project TRANSFORM aims to bridge the gap “From Science to Action,” empowering LGUs like the Municipality of Tanay to take proactive leadership in safeguarding their communities and environments. ~
