The need to address the issues and concerns on the use of biofuels in developing countries, particularly the Philippines, prompted the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) to implement this project which aims to consolidate all the efforts of the major stakeholders within the biofuels cluster (Phil. Forest Corp., Bureau of Plant Industry and the PNOC Altenative Fuels Corp.).  It seeks to institutionalize the biofuels cluster that would direct the actions of the three subclusters, Agriculture, Industry and Policy. It aims to coordinate the initiatives of the cluster and stakeholders for the development of a centralized action by filling the gaps identified and to prepare a biofuels roadmap.

The unabated extraction of groundwater and pollution of surface water aggravates depletion of water availability and water quality in the country.  Despite the active efforts in water, there seems to be a continuing momentum at degrading the dwindling water resources.

This project gathered key stakeholders on water resources management to review proposed bills/legislations and existing laws related to water resources management and to propose legislation in order to improve the institutional aspect of water governance. It was implemented on the 2nd and 3rd quarter 2008.

An aspect of globalization is the free movement of professionals and of services across national boundaries.  In the worldwide community of engineers, greater mobility is being sought through the internationalization of engineering education and the mutual recognition of professionals.  The Washington Accord of 1989 is one such effort to internationalize engineering education.  The signatories of this accord agree that an engineering education program accredited by one member country is substantially equivalent to an engineering degree program in the same field accredited by another member country.  The member countries of this Accord are USA, Canada, UK, Oreland, South Africa, Japan,  Australia, New Zealand, Hongkong, Singapore, Korea and Taiwan.  India Malaysia, Russia, Germany are provisional members.

This project gathers recent data pertaining to Dr. Abad Santos’ paper on “Taxonomy of the Intertidal Crinoids of Puerto Galera, Mindoro.  The data gathered will be compiled, synthesized and published into a book.