TO address issues affecting Philippine waters, Globe, a strong advocate for environmental protection, partnered with Carmel-Haifa University Economic Corporation Ltd from Israel’s University of Haifa and the Department of Agriculture’s National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI), to conduct a webinar that sought to promote advanced underwater navigational technologies for better marine conservation.
“As climate change affects the abundance and distribution of fish stocks, the technologies shared by the University of Haifa has opened our eyes on the latest technologies that can help us address the negative impacts of climate change on Philippine livelihood and food security,” said Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos, Scientist IV, DA-NFRDI.
Industry stakeholders, particularly marine conservationists, students, professors of local fisheries schools, and practicing marine biologists learned about technological innovations that can positively impact efforts for Philippine aquatic care through the webinar series.
Dr. Itzik Klein, assistant professor and head of the Autonomous Navigation and Sensor Fusion Lab (ANSFL) at Haifa’s Hatter Department of Marine Technologies, served as resource person for the webinar sessions. Klein discussed navigational concepts and related underwater technologies, as well as efficient and cost-effective solutions to exploring and monitoring the local marine environment.
He pointed out that navigational tools and sensors are necessary for analyzing the aquatic environment, which can help people understand the ocean's health. In the same regard, available technologies could also recognize irregular activities and understand user dynamics, which can be useful in tracking the behavior of marine animals.
He also shared that inertial sensors can be used in other environments apart from underwater navigation. This includes indoor navigation through mobile phones.
“The degradation of our ocean underscores the importance of collaboration among different stakeholders and the need to utilize science and innovation to protect our ocean. This partnership is only one of the ways in which we support initiatives on marine conservation and coastal care,” said Apple Evangelista, Globe’s Head of Sustainability and Social Responsibility.
Globe and DA-NFRDI support local communities through products and services such as ISDApp, the first community-based application in the Philippines that communicates weather data to fisherfolk and helps improve their understanding of the environment they work in. It utilizes the power of data even without smartphones and an internet connection. The app has been piloted in Dingalan, Aurora, and Sariaya, Quezon.
Globe bridges communities to drive positive societal impact and build a #OneSustainablePH.
The company supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development, and UN SDG No. 14, which promotes the conservation and responsible use of the oceans, seas and marine resources.