Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) joined government agencies, local government units, academic institutions, and civil society organizations at the National Climate Resilience Forum (NCRF) 2026, held on July 23, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. College President Dr. Augie E. Fuentes and Supervising Administrative Officer Engr. Clara A. Acebes, Ph.D.
The forum, organized by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) together with partner agencies including the Philippine Red Cross, the International Organization for Migration, UNICEF Philippines, and Catholic Relief Services, carried the theme Bagong Bansang Matatag, Handa sa Pagbabago ng Klima. It served as a national platform for dialogue on climate resilience, bringing together policymakers, development partners, local executives, and academic representatives to discuss the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan 2023 to 2050 and the priorities that come with it.
The program covered a broad range of concerns. Morning sessions focused on high-level addresses and the launch of climate resilience initiatives, while the afternoon featured breakout discussions organized by sector, covering agriculture and food security, health and livelihoods, land use and cultural heritage, and energy and infrastructure. Each cluster worked through gaps, practical solutions, and recommendations that institutions at every level could carry back to their communities.
Among the more notable moments of the day was an unplanned encounter during the lunch break, when Dr. Fuentes had the chance to sit down with Robert E.A. Borje, Vice Chairperson and Executive Director of the Climate Change Commission. The conversation, informal as it was, opened a window for the college to connect with one of the country’s leading figures on climate governance and gave both sides a chance to exchange perspectives on what higher education institutions can contribute to national climate action.
DSSC’s participation in the forum aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) by placing the college in direct engagement with national efforts to strengthen climate resilience and translate policy into ground-level practice. It also reflected SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the college’s commitment to keeping its leadership informed and connected to developments that shape the environment in which it educates and serves, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through the relationships built and renewed over the course of the day with national agencies and institutions working on the same concerns.
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