A record-breaking 170 participants, mostly students and alumni of UP Manila, attended the “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP” last November 28, 2011 at the PGH. The Kapihan topic was “The State of the Environment in Metro Manila and its Implications on Health”. Resource speakers were Hon. Elisea G. Gozun, presidential assistant for climate change, and Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa, who represented Secretary Enrique T. Ona.

Ms. Gozun discussed the prevailing environment in Metro Manila, including air pollution, water quality and solid waste management. Dr. Herbosa presented health issues including statistics on diseases caused by environmental degradation such as dengue, hemorrhagic fever, leptospirosis, malaria, cholera, typhoid, and measles.

The forum was the fifth to be conducted by the UPAA with the support of the UP Office of Alumni Relations. The ”Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP” is a regular public service of the UPAA which began in November 2010 with a forum on constitutional change. The “Kapihan” aims at ventilating issues relevant to national development. Also in attendance at the UP Manila forum were Chancellor Manuel Agulto and other officials of UP Manila, Dr. Ponciano Aberin, president of UP Manila Alumni Association and UPAA directors and staff headed by President Gladys Tiongco. Director Dodie Lagman Jr. was master of ceremonies and moderator.

More articles from UP Alumni Association:

Previous:	Nominations for UPAA Board for 2012-2015 now accepted
Next:	UPAA Board of Directors