UPLB-CALAMBA CITY PARTNERSHIP WINS 2025 PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD IN CHICAGO
A COLLABORATION between the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the City Government of Calamba has been named the 2025 Partnership of the Year at the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities Network (EPIC-N) Annual Conference held recently in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Led by Dr. Maria Ana Quimbo of UPLB’s College of Public Affairs and Development and Dr. Tessa Mar Espino of the Calamba City Agriculture Office, the partnership was recognized for its projects addressing climate change challenges in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
Launched in 2021 and 2023, the initiatives focused on enhancing disaster preparedness and climate change awareness among lakeshore communities in Calamba City.
Graduate students in development communication and development management helped implement the projects through community consultations, focus group discussions, and coordination with local leaders to develop relevant project outputs.
These efforts produced information materials, media content, and disaster preparedness recommendations that strengthened the city’s food security and environmental programs while providing students with valuable hands-on learning experiences.
Both Dr. Quimbo and Dr. Espino said the recognition affirms the value of university-community partnerships in creating sustainable and inclusive local solutions and motivates them to expand the model to other local government collaborations.