The University of Baguio has taken another step towards a brighter, greener future by joining forces with the Baguio City Transportation and Traffic Division, the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to promote low-carbon urban transport systems in the country.
Through a partnership valued at an estimated 2 million pesos, the City of Baguio, DOT-CAR, and the UNDP have handed over new educational equipment to the university in the interest of enhancing the quality of education and encouraging innovation and research into low-carbon transportation (LCT). Among the new equipment was a smart television and several desktops that will facilitate enhanced learning for the students.
The equipment handover took place on October 10, 2023 and saw in attendance Miss Gwyneth Anne Palmost, Program Analyst from the UNDP, Atty. Jose Villacorte, Assistant Regional Director of DOT-CAR, and Engr. Januario S. Borillo, the Chief of the Traffic and Transportation Management Division of the City of Baguio. UB President Javier Herminio Bautista was also present for the ceremony, extending his sincerest hope for continued collaboration toward building a better future for the City of Baguio.
SEA Dean Jeferd Saong accepted the new equipment with heartfelt gratitude, highlighting his steadfast dedication to not only improving education in the university but also fostering climate action initiatives in support of low-carbon transportation.
The ceremony took place at the UB Centennial Hall, with the university management, different school deans, program chairs, faculty, and students bearing witness to the momentous occasion.
The equipment handover aims to support and improve the Transport Engineering program of the university. UB is the first in Northern Luzon to establish the program. Through it, the School of Engineering and Architecture aims to build future professionals who will be able to come up with solutions that will mitigate and control the negative effects of the rising carbon emissions in the city that are drastically affecting the local climate.
Through these partnerships with other universities and government institutions (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals), the university hopes to continue making a positive impact on the community, making the city more sustainable (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities) and providing aid in the country’s fight against climate change (SDG 13: Climate Action).