Category: Linkages

As the entire country continues to improve and recover its failing economic state due to the pandemic, the West Visayas State University is also on its way to aid the government’s Philippine Development Plan (PDP) to realize the country’s goals in supporting economic environment and foundations for sustainable development.

In a Virtual Caravan on the Updated PDP held on May 5, 2021, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) provided an update of the current status of this medium-term plan which shows positive changes before the pandemic.

Regional Director of NEDA Region 6, Meylene C. Rosales talked about featured chapters of the PDP and the long-term vision or the AmBisyon Natin 2040 such as the health system improvement, expanding economic opportunities, reaching for the demographic dividend and topics about ecological integrity.

Rosales also shared that despite of the setbacks that this pandemic has brought towards the PDP, it still did not halt the drive of the government to continue build the nation.  

“There is no other way but to ride the tide of this pandemic and deal with the complexities that it has brought us. Thus, we have adjusted what has been initially placed in the Philippine Development Plan in order to integrate strategies for us to move on to a better normal,” Rosales said while emphasizing the adjustments in PDP. 

WVSU AS A ‘RESEARCH-ORIENTED UNIVERSITY’

Meanwhile, on the University’s developments plans, Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz also assured taga-wests earlier this year that the University will remain globally relevant and competitive by enhancing the game plan of the institution amidst pandemic.

The new strategic direction of the University will provide a roadmap to achieve its goals related to the research linkages and internationalization of WVSU whereas highlighting natural, health and medical sciences disciplines at the forefront will catapult an exponential growth in research production and publications.

Dr. Villaruz also said that all research engagements shall be aligned to regional, national and sustainable development goals and will be translated into action to significantly contribute to community transformation.

TAGA-WESTS AS RESPONSIBLE AND INNOVATIVE INDIVIDUALS

On Chapter 20 of the PDP as discussed by Rosales and Leyte’s 4^th District Representative Hon. Lucy-Torres Gomez, the University also has its sustainability policies in ensuring ecological integrity, clean and healthy environment such as the energy conservation program and water conservation policy of 2019.

Students of the WVSU also took part on their roles in this featured chapter where five promising Taga-Wests conceptualized an AI-moderated three-part system that will be able to foresee natural disasters that can help the government and the community for preparedness and disaster relief management.

The Artificial Intelligence for Disaster Response project came to life during the design-thinking contest last 2020 of the Iloilo Provincial Government that won 2^nd place that was conceptualized by Bryan Abesamis, Fraye Cedrick Anona, Julie Anne Collado, and Jose Marie Wong of the different colleges. 

The University Research and Development Center also produced 30 complete researches in Teaching and Learning Initiatives, Poverty Alleviation/Environmental Sustainability and Health and Disease Management Categories last 2018.

The University, according to Dr. Villaruz will continue to remain loyal to its mandate of producing quality graduates and excellent healthcare delivery in the country with research at the core.

TOWARDS MODERNIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT

This virtual conference initiated by NEDA was conducted in order to engage communities on the ground by holding a series of virtual caravans on the strategies of the updated PDP. 

This long-term vision is a whole-of-society approach for economic recovery and getting the country back on track towards achieving a “Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay” for every Filipino.

NEDA also urged the citizen to participate in this virtual caravan to educate themselves and at the same time, to know their respective responsibilities in taking part in achieving the goals of the PDP.

“I always believe that you can never practice what you do not appreciate and you cannot appreciate what you do not understand and you cannot understand what you do not, in the first place, know about,” Rosales highlighted.  – Jonar Dorado/CILPI

Google Meet has been the number one medium for lectures and discussions among faculty and students in West Visayas State University (WVSU).

Recently, the ASEAN Cultural Initiative was brought into Google Meet through the subject, Communication in the ASEAN Setting in the College of Communication (COC). This aims to promote friendship and mutual understanding among ASEAN citizens, and specifically to: (1) bring together in a virtual panel discussion ASEAN citizens and young Filipino students; (2) feature alumni from the College of Communication who are working in the different ASEAN countries; (3) establish awareness about ASEAN among invited member-discussants and young Filipino students; (4) understand the similarities and differences among ASEAN citizens and to develop mutual respect for each other; and (5) promote internationalization of academic activities among young Filipino students. Dr. Ricky G. Abaleña III, course facilitator, wrote in the activity background, “Our Communication in the ASEAN Setting class is implementing an international collaborative initiative that will bring other ASEAN citizens to interact with young Filipinos online for a panel discussion on the theme, ‘One with ASEAN’. Within the semester, sessions will be conducted that will feature ASEAN nationals as part of the panel who will share with young Filipinos the cultures and recent developments in their respective countries as a means to promote communication among ASEAN citizens and thus being able to establish friendship and mutual understanding.”

A Panel of Guests from ASEAN countries were invited to talk to the Bachelor of Science in Development Communication second year students. The panel shared both cultural practices and communication styles/practices in their respective countries.

One of the issues raised was, actions or remarks that are considered rude in each country. In Thailand, Mr. Pipat Puengmongkolchaikij, Head of Business Operations of Choen Ter International Trade from Thailand mentioned that touching the head of another person is rude “because the head is considered as sacred”; Mr. Somsouk Vangxuexa, Executive Project Coordinator of Maruhan Japan Bank Lao from Lao PDR warned that pointing with your finger is a no-no in Laos. Both panelists agreed on not sitting in level with the monks, for monks are considered to be the highest class of people in Thailand and Laos.

Mr. Romi Sumuan , Government Officer from Indonesia, shared that Indonesia is a tourist spot, emphasizing that there is Bali and even his own hometown Mando, which are pleasant to visit. Ms. Dona Saraswati Galindo, a half-Indonesian, half-Filipina Senior Film Editor of the Mayad Post Production, Inc. in Iloilo City, who happens to be also an alumna of the COC, expressed that she has problems with the language—not exactly understanding Hiligaynon when she started studying here in Iloilo City, and even until now, she confessed, “You can backfight me and I wouldn’t understand a thing.” Filipino guests who are working with ASEAN nations and are alumni of the WVSU-COC were also invited to help enrich the discussion: Dr. Jude Ryan Seares, Asia Compliance Officer and Safeguarding Focal Point of Tearfund UK and Country Program Representative of World Concern Pakse, Champassak, Lao PDR and Mr. Brian Arthur Tallador, Leadership and Communications Life Coach in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Dr. Seares and Mr. Tallador said that their experiences with other Asian nationalities and their immersion in community and civic work were humbling. They quipped that there are many things going on outside the Philippines and dealing with other Asians taught them that truly diversity could be a uniting factor that strengthens communities.Prof. Edel Carmela Subong-Csoka, the Director of the Center for International Linkages and Public Information of WVSU was also in attendance to witness the discussion.

This initiative is only one of the many series that are introduced in this virtual class. However, students are not required to attend if it is impossible in their circumstances. /CILPI

Finally, after a year of postponement due to the pandemic, the Visiting Scientist Program of West Visayas State University pulls through, as it starts March 15 and ends in August, this year.

During the opening program to welcome the visiting scientist Dr. Roland Buresh and the participants, WVSU President Dr. Joselito Villaruz urged everyone to “challenge” and “doubt” ideas.

Dr. Villaruz also added that revising policies is needed and  he acknowledged that activities  such as the Visiting Scientist Program opens doors for novel and practical ideas, adapting to the call of times. This, he says, is part of the “how” WVSU could remain “viable and globally competitive”.

The University President hopes that as WVSU gears toward a stronger research culture, the community would embrace a  better vision, a renewed vigor in the quest to improve communities, creating impact on policy and quality of life. 

The 6-month program is hosted by the College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF), with 18 participants from CAF, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Lambunao campus, and 9 Ph.D. students, representing five  state universities in Region VI-University of the Philippines In the Visayas, Institute of Science and Technology University, Negros Oriental State University, Guimaras State University  and WVSU. One student is an employee of the Department of Agriculture Regional Office. –CILPI