The University of the Cordilleras’ (UC) Project DANUM – Decision Support and Nurturing Management of Watersheds was among the finalists of the Northern Luzon Cluster of the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits by Cluster (ClusteRICE) 2025. The Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) held the cluster leg on October 14–15, 2025, hosted by the Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley Campus.
The Northern Luzon Cluster was the fifth and final leg of ClusteRICE 2025, after the NCR, Visayas, Southern Luzon and Mindanao clusters. Finalists presented their inventions and innovations to judges, with the best entries moving on to the National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE) 2026.
Technology for healthier watersheds
Project DANUM develops a technology enhanced watershed decision support system using participatory approaches. It turns appropriate technologies into practical tools for managing watersheds, through studies on watershed transformations, land-use models and a decision support system developed with communities. Its focus is the Bued River watershed, which covers Baguio City, the Municipality of Tuba and parts of the Municipality of Itogon in Benguet.
The project is led by Engr. Nathaniel Vincent A. Lubrica of UC and funded by the DOST – National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP). It forms part of Program DANUM, a DOST-funded program that aims to ensure water security and climate resilience for mountain communities in the Cordillera.
Working with government on water security
DANUM was built in cooperation with local, regional and national government partners.
| Level | Partners | Cooperation |
| Local | City Government of Baguio, Municipalities of Tuba and Itogon, Barangay Camp 8, Baguio Water District | Memoranda of agreement; land-cover maps shared with LGUs; watershed management seminar and biodiversity assessment conducted with the LGUs |
| Regional | Bued Water Quality Management Area (WQMA), Bued Watershed Council, DENR-CAR, DOST-CAR | Membership in the water councils of Baguio and Tuba; consultations for Tuba’s 10-year Water Resources Development and Protection Plan |
| National | DOST-NRCP, DOST-TAPI | Research funding; ClusteRICE 2025 finalist |
On May 30, 2023, UC formally turned over DANUM’s outputs to the LGUs of Baguio, Tuba and Itogon and other partners at the DENR-CAR Training Center. The outputs included publications, patents, policies, maps, information materials, an operations manual and capacity-building activities. DENR-CAR noted that the project would strengthen the information available to LGUs and the national government to conserve and protect the Bued River watershed.
Reaching the ClusteRICE 2025 finals brings this cooperative, community-tested technology before a national audience of innovators.
Project DANUM supports SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by protecting river and watershed water quality and helping government partners manage water resources. Its tools for land-cover mapping and watershed monitoring support SDG 15 (Life on Land). Its partnerships with LGUs, regional councils and national agencies reflect SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and its invention-contest showcase supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
Sources:
- DOST-TAPI, ClusteRICE 2025 Northern Luzon Cluster announcement (Facebook)
- DOST-NRCP Basic Research Information System – Project DANUM
- UC – Project DANUM in 2022
- PIA – UC research team turns over R&D output to 3 LGUs, partners
- UC CTE – Cultivating Change: Life on Land and Global Sustainability Goals
- Baguio Herald Express – RRDIC launches R&D programs for Cordillera development
