On 05 May 2026, the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME) welcomed five (5) interns from the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), followed by ten (10) interns from the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) on 19 May 2026.
Throughout their stay, the interns rotated to a different unit each week to maximize their field experience. They joined the Mount Makiling Forest Protection Regulation Unit in conducting patrols within the vicinity of the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve and learned drone operations under the guidance of For. Leonardo D. Barua. Additionally, they assisted the Forest and Watershed Division in monitoring Tree Planting and Nurturing sites and conducting biodiversity analyses. In the Botanic Gardens, Parks, and Ecotourism Division, they served as tour guides and developed communication, education, and public awareness materials. Finally, they helped prepare and facilitate the Youth Summer Program on Environmental Education for the Social Forestry Division.
The DMMMSU interns concluded their internship on 04 June 2026, while the PSAU interns completed theirs on 15 June 2026. For. Aldin C. Alegre, chair of the MCME Internship Committee, supervised the student interns. (Article by For. Carl Earvin Carada, photo courtesy of For. Geine Joseph Esguerra)