In preparing for the future of the University, the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture held a 2-day Stakeholders’ Forum with the theme, “HARVEST: Harnessing Agricultural Resilience through Vibrant Edupreneurship and Sustainable Technologies” on May 18-19, 2023, at the Alvaro R. Rabina Hall.
The stakeholders’ forum intended to strengthen the alliance of the University with various government agencies as partners in shaping the future of the institutions. Having been partners with these agencies, the University looks forward to more collaboration activities that would benefit the institution in terms of academic, research and development, and extension services and in turn, provide services to these agencies as well.
The first day of the forum commenced with a welcome message from Atty. Dominador Faurillo. He described the forum as an activity to collate “the best and brightest ideas and process them into user-friendly sets of information”, which will serve as guide in planning for the future of the institution. Dr. Alberto Naperi, the University President, seconded this as he considered the activity an essential step in looking into the future directions of the University and, meanwhile, looking back into what has been done so far.
Dr. Emerson Bergonio, the Director of the Institutional Planning and Development Office (IPDO), gave the rationale of the forum. The rationale can be summarized into 5Cs: communication, consultation, complementation, collaboration, and co-creation.
Starting off the reports of the University’s accomplishments and moving forward plans was a discussion on the Academic Programs and Innovations by Dr. Ana Mirana, VP for Academic Affairs. A report on Research, Development, and Innovations, led by Dr. Ramona Isabel Ramirez, was presented through a video presentation. Further, Dr. Jayson Danas, Director of the Technology Commercialization and Agripreneurship Center, reported on Technology Commercialization and Agripreneurship Initiatives.
After officials from the University reported their accomplishments and plans, invited representatives from partner government agencies imparted insights as a response to the University and challenge to them as partners. On behalf of Atty. Septon A. De La Cruz, Regional Director of Chedro V, Ms. Rachel Casimero, the Chief Education Program Specialist of CHEDRO V led the talk. She particularly stressed on the challenge of giving back to the community, which she dubbed “Bikolanos para sa Bicol”. Ms. Luz Marcelino, Representative of Dir. Rodel Tornilla, the Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture RO V, talked about the Department’s recent developments and encouraged the University for collaborative initiatives on research, especially on Pili nuts being the flagship commodity of the locality.
In the afternoon, more responses were communicated by the other partner agencies starting with DENR with For. Alejandro D. Maranan, the Chief of Technical Services Division of PENRO as talk giver; and DOST with Engr. Sandro B. Noguera, the Senior Science Research Specialist & Provincial Director, Provincial Science and Technology Office of Sorsogon.
The second day started with a report given by Dr. Bergonio on the Land Use Development and Improvement Plan and Investment Plan of CBSUA. After which, Dr. Vladimir Foronda, the Director of the Extension Services Division, reported on the accomplishments and shared the moving forward plans of the division. The afternoon session featured responses and challenges from external stakeholders with invited representatives from the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Municipal Local Government Units of Pili and Calabanga. Each speaker provided updates on their recent accomplishments and laid out possible entry points of complementation with the University.
In between the discussions, forum attendees were given opportunities to ask questions to the stakeholders. Sent representatives of the stakeholders openly welcomed the questions and diplomatically gave answers to them. The Stakeholders’ Forum is yet another significant initiative of the University as it does not only consider its own plans for the future of the University recognizes the role of other agencies’ involvement in shaping the institution’s future directions.
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