The Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), through the UPOU Perma G.A.R.D.E.N. (Growing Appreciation towards Resilience, Development, Entrepreneurship, and Nutrition) team, delivered a special lecture session for the Grade 11 students of the UP Rural High School (UPRHS) on 21 April 2026 at the UPRHS Paciano Rizal, Bay, Laguna. 

This lecture aimed to provide the students with the opportunity to learn directly from experts about pressing global issues and sustainable solutions. While highlighting the role of permaculture practices in promoting environmental sustainability, community resilience, and responsible stewardship of natural systems, students were expected to recognize the importance of understanding planetary health, explain how the different Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relate to planetary health, and appreciate how sustainable, nature-based practices can support both ecosystems and communities.

Ms. Raizza Anna Alforja, Project Staff, commenced the discussions by delving into the transformation of UPOU’s physical campus into a sustainable and resilient campus through introducing the on-going UPOU’s sustainability initiatives, particularly the components of SiALLC or “Sustainability in Action – a Living Laboratory Campus”. She highlighted this innovative initiative of UPOU that aims to address the pressing need for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to take a crucial role in advancing sustainability efforts. By leveraging capabilities in teaching, research, and public service, UPOU can significantly contribute to sustainable development. She uncovered the reality of the stagnant Philippine’s progress toward improving environmental health, leaving a challenge to UPRHS in immediate call for increased focus and efforts towards the implementation of the SDGs.

Building on the university’s thriving Perma G.A.R.D.E.N., which demonstrates how permaculture bolsters planetary health through food security, community well-being, energy conservation, responsible production, and climate resilience, Dr. Jabez Joshua M. Flores, UPOU Senior Lecturer and permaculture consultant, comprehensively introduced UPOU Perma G.A.R.D.E.N. and permaculture, in general. 

During the discussion, he touched on the seamless integration of the garden with digital tools like IoT sensors and AI analytics, thereby ensuring responsiveness to rapid technological advances through real-time monitoring and automated adjustments. He affirmed technology’s indispensable role in permaculture while advocating judicious application to avoid potential exploitation that could imperil ecological integrity. This approach positions the garden as a model for university-wide energy efficiency measurement.

To further contextualize the discussion and as part of the expected outcome of the collaboration, UPRHS hoped to utilize selected environmental and spatial data from their campus vicinity as a reference point for exploring potential applications in permaculture design and nature-based solutions. With this, a site visit was conducted as a part of the student’s activity output. They are expected to accomplish an activity designed to help them observe, document, and list down existing natural and manmade resources found within the site, and also list down personal skills and interests that would help them in their permaculture design process.

Written by:  Raizza Anna M. Alforja • Edited by: Larry N. Cruz

Sustainable Development Goals