August 25, 2025

The Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM) extended its technical expertise beyond crop monitoring by supporting local environmental conservation through a five-day Basic GIS Training for researchers at Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) held from August 18 to 22, 2025.

Five PRiSM staff members served as resource persons for the workshop, which was specifically designed to support the BPSU research project, “Spatio-Temporal Analysis of the Water Quality in Orani River Using Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Parameters.”

This collaborative effort between PRiSM and BPSU provides the scientific foundation necessary for future policy interventions aimed at maintaining and restoring the Orani River’s water quality, as environmental threats from garbage and untreated waste continue to jeopardize this vital resource for the local community.

Participants engaged in a comprehensive curriculum covering an overview of GIS, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and techniques for working with vector and raster data. Specialized modules also focused on stream and watershed generation, as well as the visualization and analysis of water quality using QGIS software.

The training combined theoretical lectures, software demonstrations, and hands-on exercises tailored to environmental monitoring. These activities equipped BPSU researchers with essential GIS skills to map, monitor, and analyze critical changes in the Orani River’s water quality over time.

This initiative was made possible through the financial support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the BPSU College of Computer Studies, underscoring a multi-sectoral commitment to science-based environmental stewardship.

PRiSM and BPSU aim to bridge the gap between satellite technology and local environmental issues, helping to ensure that the Orani River remains a sustainable resource for the people of Bataan for generations to come.