Scholars' Profile 2024

As head of the Institute for Climate Change and Environmental Management (ICCEM), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), the works of Gella Patria L. Abella are primarily anchored on short and long-term measures on climate change, disaster risk reduction, optimal land utilization, coastal resource management, and food security, benefitting nearby communities and the country at large. She has implemented several research projects. One notable project involved optimizing land and water utilization while considering the multiple goals of Zambales by applying advanced tool, Gurobi. The Community Level-SARAI Enhanced Agricultural Monitoring System (CL-SEAMS) introduced adaptive planting calendar to corn farmers of Lupao, Nueva Ecija. As Managing Head of the CLSU Environmental Monitoring Committee, she ensures mitigating negative environmental impacts of the university’s activities and enhancing positive externalities on the community. Through her involvement in the Erasmus-funded project, the offering of the MS Agroecology is now on its way. She also serves as head of the eFARM Academy, a Study in the Philippines program (StudyPh), developing platform to educate lifelong learners on food security. Currently, Gella is working on the MECO-TECO funded-project, in partnership with National Taiwan University. This aims to monitor and manage pests and diseases of corn in Tarlac and onion in Nueva Ecija using robotics and drone technology.

As a Hubert Humphrey Fellow, Gella will pursue program in Natural Resources, Environmental, and Climate Change, focusing on AI-Based Policy on Natural Resources Management. She recognizes that development of innovative approaches should combine data science and stakeholders' needs, ensuring effective and evidence-based environmental policies.

She finished BS Human Ecology, major in Human Settlements Planning (1997), MS in Environmental Science (2003) and PhD in Environmental Science (2017) from the University of the Philippines Los Banos. In 2018, she became a licensed Environmental Planner. Over the next five years, her professional vision is to establish ICCEM as a renowned Regional Center for Climate Change and Environmental Management, with significant impact in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. On a personal note, Gella is married to Evaristo A. Abella, the incumbent CLSU President, and they are blessed with two grown-up children, Kyla Gelle and Evan Gello.