Three faculty members from Sorsogon State University (SorSU), namely Prof. Saturnino C. Carranza (Director, DRRM&CC), Arch. Garner Ted O. Olavere, and Ms. Justeen Frances Manuel-Hollon actively engaged in the four-day 2025 Indigenous Knowledge, Co-governance, and Nature-based Solution Workshop, held from September 5-8, 2025, at the Da Hsian Seeto Library, National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taipei, Taiwan.
The workshop featured keynote addresses on significant topics: “Indigenous Studies in the Philippines” and “Realizing Co-Governing through Participatory Spatial Planning.” Participants also took part in panel discussions, addressing critical issues, such as (1) Decolonizing Resources Regime: Recognizing Indigenous Land Rights, Collaborating Multiple Knowledge Systems in the Philippines and Taiwan; (2) Engaging Social Dialogue: Social and Cultural Education; (3) Tracing Indigenous History: Reframing the Relationship between Ethnic Groups; and 4: Building Climate Resilience: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Engineering for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Notably, Prof. Carranza served as a moderator, while Arch. Olavere participated as one of the panelists for Panel Discussion 4. In addition to these sessions, the workshop included meaningful site visits that explored various aspects of ecological and sustainable practices, including a beekeeping initiative, shiitake mushroom cultivation, FSC logging and reforestation efforts, and exhibitions related to domestic timber co-governance.
The international training was organized by the National Chengchi University (NCCU) Center for Taiwan-Philippines Indigenous Knowledge, Local Knowledge, and Sustainable Studies (CTPILS), in partnership with NCCU’s Office of University Social Responsibility. (SorSU PIO)
