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hemed “Public Service in Development and Governance,” the College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf) celebrated its 19thFoundation Anniversary on January 31, 2017 at CPAf Rooms 303-304. Some UPLB officials, deans and faculty members of other colleges, CPAf faculty members and staff, and guests attended the said event. CPAf was established on January 29, 1998 during the 1116th meeting of the UP Board of Regents.
Highlights of the
anniversary were the blessing of the Graduate Student Learning Lounge; launching of publications and the CHATS for RDG project;
awarding of CPAf outstanding faculty and staff in the fields of instruction, research, and public service; giving recognition to CPAf faculty and staff for their
exemplary and loyal service to the College; and awarding of sportsfest winners.
New learning lounge for graduate students
The renovation of the Graduate Student Learning Lounge was made possible through the
generosity of the family of the late Dr.
Samuel T.
Mancebo, who provided partial funding. Dr.
Mancebo is a former dean of CPAf from 2001 to 2003.
The blessing was officiated by Rev. Fr. John
Ferry B. Reveche, the Parochial Vicar of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish. Representatives from the Mancebo family were present during the blessing and accepted the Plaque of Appreciation from Dr. Virginia R. Cardenas, the current dean of the college.
CPAf celebrates 19 th Foundation Anniversary
(continued next page)
Rev. Fr. John Ferry B. Reveche officiates the blessing of the renovated GS Learning Lounge. The renovation was made possible through the generosity of the late Dr. Samuel T. Mancebo’s family.
New publications on education, environment, and food security
Two books on education, environment, and food
security were launched during the anniversary. The book
“Celebrating BRAC School Culture: Evidence from the BRAC Learning Centers” was presented by Prof. Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero. According to him, the book documented the processes done by the BRAC Learning Centers in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the participation of those involved in its implementation. The book contains case studies on the experiences of the various stakeholders in the identification, establishment, implementation, and operation of the BRAC Learning Centers. BRAC or the Building Resources Across Communities is an international development organization based in Bangladesh. Book editors are Prof. Querijero and Dr. Merlyne M. Paunlagui.
The second book, titled
“Environment and Food Security Interactions Amid Climate Change: A Multi-scale Analysis in a Philippine Watershed,” was relaunched during the anniversary.
Dr. Agnes C. Rola presented the book as a compilation of studies in a project funded by the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS).
She added that the book analyzed the impact of climate change on the environment, how the environment affects food security, and how the communities
and households respond to these changes. The book also identified technological strategies that can be done to minimize the adverse effects of these interactions, including policy recommendations to achieve food security in communities within the watershed. Book editors are Dr. Rola, Dr. Zenaida M. Sumalde (College of Economics and
Management), and Dr. Jose Nestor M. Garcia (College of Agriculture and Food Science).
New public service project Also launched
during the anniversary was the CHATS for RDG project or the CPAf’s Helpdesk on Advisory and Technical Services (CHATS) for Rural Development and Governance (RDG). Dean Cardenas
explained that the
CHATS for RDG seeks to make CPAf closer, more responsive and relevant to the needs of its development partners and major clientele - the LGUs, civil society and communities as well as local and international institutions.
Furthermore, the project aims to promote the products and services of the College and increase awareness of potential partners and clients on what CPAf offers through the use of social media.
In response, Atty. Rommel A. Gecolea, Cabuyao City mayor in Laguna, commended the new project of CPAf, the CHATS for RDG. He also shared the current initiatives in his LGU, particularly efforts at public entrepreneurship.
Mayor Gecolea expressed strong interest in working with CPAf on future development initiatives for Cabuyao City.
CPAf faculty, REPS, and staff awardees
CPAf faculty members, researchers, and administrative staff were awarded for their achievements and services to the college.
CPAf celebrates...
(from previous page)According to Dean Cardenas, CPAf’s Helpdesk on Advisory and Technical Services for Rural Development and Governance (CHATS for RDG) seeks to make the college closer, more responsive and relevant to the needs of its development partners and major clientele.
Dr. Rowena DT. Baconguis
• One UP Professorial Chair in Rural Development and Capacity Building for Outstanding Teaching and Research in UPLB
• Loyalty Award Dr. Bing C. Brillo
• One UP Professorial Chair in Development Studies for Outstanding Teaching and Research in UPLB
• UP Scientist 1 (2015-2017)
• IGRD Deputy Director (January 4-December 31, 2016)
Dr. Virginia R. Cardenas
• One UP Professorial Chair in Rural and Social Development for Outstanding Teaching and Research in UPLB
Dr. Josefina T. Dizon
• One UP Professorial Chair in Community Development for Outstanding Teaching and Research in UPLB
• UP Scientist I (2016-2018) Prof. Nelson Jose Vincent B.
Querijero
• One UP Professorial Chair Award in Development
Management and Governance for Outstanding Teaching and Research in UPLB
• CPAf Outstanding Teacher Award (Senior Faculty category)
Dr. Maria Ana T. Quimbo
• One UP Professorial Chair in Educational Research and Evaluation for Outstanding Teaching and Research in UPLB
Dr. Agnes C. Rola
• One UP Professorial Chair in Agricultural Economics for Outstanding Teaching and Research in UPLB
• UP Scientist II (2015-2017) Dr. Merlyne M. Paunlagui
• One UP Faculty Grant in Social and Rural Development for Outstanding Teaching and Research in UPLB
• CPAf Outstanding Researcher Award (Senior Faculty
category)
Dr. Vella A. Atienza
• Assistant to the Dean (March 1-December 31, 2016)
Dr. Miriam R. Nguyen
• CPAf Outstanding Researcher Award (Senior Research category)
Ms. Eldy Z. Martinez
• CPAf Outstanding Researcher Award (Junior Research category)
Mr. Danilo G. Reforma
• CPAf Outstanding
Administrative Staff Award (Blue Collar Personnel category).
Ms. Cristeta A. Foronda and Ms. Susan S. Guiaya were also given recognition as retirees for their dedicated service to CPAf and UPLB. A Posthumous Award for Mr. Teodoro A.
Pelegrina, Household Attendant II, was also given. Dean
Cardenas and Awards Committee Chair Dr. Baconguis handed the plaques of recognition and appreciation to the awardees.
CPAf Sportsfest winners
The Green Team was the overall winner of the CPAf Sportsfest 2017 with five points over the Blue Team with three points. The sportsfest was held on January 24 at the UPLB Baker Hall. Activities during the event include volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, and some parlor games. The Green Team was awarded with a trophy while winners of the various sports also received a medal. Mr. Hadji C. Jalotjot, chair of the CPAf Sports Committee, announced the winners. n Stoix Nebin S. Pascua
CSPPS, SGRA organize policy seminar on federalism, local governance, and agriculture sector
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he Center for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies (CSPPS) of CPAf organized its first policy seminar for 2017, entitled “Federalism, Local Governance, and the Agriculture Sector in the Philippines” last February 13 at CPAf. The event was co- sponsored by the Sekiguchi Global Research Association (SGRA). Representatives from different academic and research institutions, and various local government units attended the said activity. Federalism has been a major topic in the country as President Rodrigo Duterte advocated it even during his campaign for the 2016 national elections.Highlights of the program were the lectures of Dr. Danilo Reyes, retired professor of the National College of Public Administration and Governance of UP Diliman (UP NCPAG);
Dr. Joffre Balce, secretary of the Association of Good Government;
and Dr. Eliseo Ponce, former visiting senior research fellow of
the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) and former director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research of the Department of Agriculture (DA- BAR).
Dr. Reyes talked about
“Federalism and Local Governance,” which discusses the decentralization of the
government and the devolution of powers to the local government units (LGUs) through the Local Government Code. These
powers include the basic services provided by
the government to the people, including agricultural extension. He also added that the devolution of power may pose challenges to the LGUs, such as in allocating their funds to finance the needed basic services.
Moreover, Dr. Balce discussed the “Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Strategies Revisited: A Georgist
Perspective.” He shared the difficulty on finding ways to sustainably help the areas in the
Visayas region, which were hit by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, to get back on their feet. To deal with this problem, the Georgist perspective was presented as a strategy for reconstruction and rehabilitation. Dr. Balce explained that the Georgist policy requires
“the suspension of all income, consumption, and transaction- based taxes.” He further suggested to convert the Visayas East Coast ports into free ports, and to strictly comply and enforce the land use plan.
In his topic “The State of the Philippine Agriculture,”
Dr. Ponce pointed out that little has changed in the agriculture sector in the last 30 years. He mentioned that the cost of food in the Philippines is still one of the highest in the ASEAN
region. He further noted that the agricultural producer’s income is low, the agricultural sector’s competitiveness is weak, and the poverty incidence in the rural areas is high. These are
Dr. Danilo Reyes discusses the issues and problems of decentralization and local autonomy in the Philippines.
Dr. Joffre Balce shares the difficulty in finding ways to sustainably help the areas in the Visayas region hit by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
(continued next page)
CPAf brings services closer to clients and partners
T
rue to its name, the college is fortifying its public services to development partners and major clientele through social media.Dubbed as CHATS for RDG, the CPAf’s Helpdesk on Advisory and Technical Services for Rural Development and Governance intends to make CPAf closer, more responsive, and relevant to the needs of its partner institutions and communities.
With the growing familiarity of the wider public
on the use of social network sites (SNS), the CHATS for RDG project will utilize the social media as information and communication technology (ICT) for a speedy communication platform and coordination between and among CPAf and its existing and prospective clients and partners.
The project intends to be a “one-stop shop” of CPAf’s services such as advisory,
technical assistance, and capacity building. Institutions and
organizations may tap CPAf, which either directly provide the needed service, coordinates with other institutions, or refer the requesting party to another service provider if the needed service is beyond CPAf’s expertise.
CPAf faculty and
researchers have been providing advisory services and technical assistance to government agencies, local government units, organizations, and private institutions. However, recent demands call for services that require multiple links placing the college as mediator for doer of a service.
The CHATS for RDG project will also improve the visibility of the college. It will serve as venue to promote the existing products and services of CPAf and increase the awareness of its potential partners and clients on what the College offers.
Launched during the 19th CPAf Anniversary Celebration last January 30, 2017, CHATS for RDG starts promoting and marketing the service to prospective clients and partners on its first year. n Stella Concepcion R. Britanico
all attributed to poor governance, poor planning, poor investment strategy, and poor accountability.
He also discussed the Key Agriculture Reform Agenda of the Duterte Administration, which include the modernization of the Philippine Agriculture bureaucracy and the institutionalization of the system-wide quality planning in the Department of Agriculture.
After the three lectures, Dr. Ferdinand Maquito, Philippine chief representative of SGRA, facilitated the round table discussion. Raised in the discussion were issues on the duplication of programs provided by the national agencies and the LGUs; and the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of cities and municipalities and its connection to taxation. It was suggested that a comprehensive study should be made prior to the implementation of federalism in the country. n Nico Jayson C. Anastacio
Dr. Eliseo Ponce explaining the challenges in Philippine agriculture sector.
CSPPS, SGRA organize...
(from previous page)CISC conducts capacity building of ARCs in Laguna
E
mpowering the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’Organizations (ARBOs) in the management of their
organization is one of the objectives of the ongoing Business Development Services (BDS) project of the Community Innovations Studies Center (CISC) of CPAf. This project is in coordination with the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office in Laguna.
CISC Director Ms. Blanquita R.
Pantoja leads the
project entitled “Provision of Business Development Services in Enhancing ARBOs Capacity in Organizational and Entrepreneurial Management,”
which started in November 2016.
Members of the project team include some CISC staff, namely:
Dr. Miriam R. Nguyen, Ms.
Flordeliza A. Sanchez, Ms. Mena E. Umali, Ms. Joanne V. Alvarez, and Ms. Samantha Geraldine G.
De los Santos. They conducted coaching and mentoring activities based on the needs assessment
done in January 2017.
assessment The revealed that ARBOs need the know-how on creating a system of record-keeping, bookkeeping, policy-making as well as drafting business plans and manual of operations.
Although ARBOs’ needs vary
depending on the results of the SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, the tailor-fitted coaching-and- mentoring approach is meant to allow the officers to actively participate in
the activities and get a firsthand experience on improving their financial, marketing, and organizational management skills.
The eight ARBOs that are part of the project are the following: Adia Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Sta. Maria), Buklod Kaunlaran ng Barangay Balubad Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Lumban), Calangay ARBs Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Sta. Maria), Coralan Agrarian Reform Cooperative (Sta.
Maria), Dila Multi-Purpose Cooperative for Progress (Bay), Galalan ARBs Multi-Purpose
Cooperative (Pangil), Matalatala Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Mabitac), and Perez Agrarian Reform
Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Calauan).
The BDS project started in November 2016 and will end in May 2017. n Samantha Geraldine G. De los Santos
Ms. Neusie Escoses, chairman of Perez Agrarian Reform Cooperative speaks during the initial focus group discussion with BDS Laguna Team.
Officers of the Calangay Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative participate in the coaching and mentoring activities.
Members of the Business Development Services Team Ms. Samantha Geraldine G. De los Santos and Ms. Mena E. Umali facilitate the activities.
Photo by Guinivere T. Madlangbayan
CPAf REPS present PPMS reports
C
PAf researchers presented draft terminal reports of the various Progress and Process Monitoring Services (PPMS) research projects in exit conferences called by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Office IV-A.Officials from DAR Provincial and Regional Offices and representatives of concerned Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
Organizations (ARBOs) attended the conferences. The PPMS projects were based at the Community Innovations Studies Center (CISC) of CPAf.
Ms. Maria Francesca O. Tan, project leader of PPMS project in Rizal presented on January 13, 2017 at the DAR Provincial Office of Rizal. The other projects were presented in the last quarter of 2016 by PPMS Project Leaders Guinevere T.
Madlangbayan (Cavite, Batch 2), CISC Director Blanquita R.
Pantoja (Laguna), Francisca O.
Tan (Cavite, Batch 3), and Dr.
Miriam R. Nguyen (Batangas) in separate conferences.
The PPMS projects documented and monitored the activities conducted by professional service providers tapped by DAR to provide the Agri-Extension Service (AES) and Business Development Service (BDS). The PPMS research projects also assessed the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of AES and BDS in relation to improved farm productivity and increased income of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and ARBOs.
The AES and BDS are sub-projects of the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) of DAR that are being implemented nationwide.
In CALABARZON, DAR IV-A tapped CISC through the UPLB Foundation, Inc. to monitor and assess these sub-projects.
During the presentations, several issues and concerns were raised on the AES and BDS providers’ delivery of services, project design,
and methods in relation to sustainability of agri-enterprises.
These included the importance of hands-on training and techno-demo farms, use of the local dialect during trainings, and provision of necessary inputs in crop
production, among others.
Representatives of concerned ARBOs and officials of DAR Regional and Provincial Offices who were present during the various conferences were satisfied and confirmed the reported accomplishments of the project leaders. The PPMS research projects ran for more than a year. n Francisca O. Tan
Monitoring of techno-demo farm establishment at Luzvimin Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) Multi-Purpose Cooperative in F. de Castro, GMA, Cavite.
Photo by Guinivere T. Madlangbayan
Demonstration of rice dehusking during the monitoring of harvest festival activity at Barangay Bunga Tanza Farmer’s Association, Inc. in Tanza, Cavite.
Photo by Guinivere T. Madlangbayan
Monitoring of the farm production and management planning of Infarmco Foundation, Inc. with Bacoor Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative in Molino VI, Bacoor, Cavite.
Photo by Roxanne A. Banalo
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Editor-in-Chief. More news at CPAf website at http://cpaf.uplb.edu.ph. Comments and suggestions for improvement are most welcome.
Editorial Adviser: VIRGINIA R. CARDENAS • Editor-in-Chief: JAINE C. REYES • Managing Editor: STOIX NEBIN S. PASCUA
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New research project on resilient fishing communities
A
two-year research on“Developing Strategies towards More Resilient Fishing Communities Amidst Climate Change: The Case of Major Lakes in Luzon” started on January 4, 2017 with funding from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA- BAR) and is conducted through the UPLB Foundation, Inc. Dr.
Miriam R. Nguyen, University Researcher of the Community Innovations Studies Center (CISC) of CPAf leads the project.
The project generally aims to capacitate fishing communities on developing climate change adaptation strategies and
formulating a community action plan towards resiliency to climate change using the participatory
approach. Two studies will be conducted on its first year of implementation. These are entitled “Characterization and Profiling of Fishing
Communities” and “Community- based Adaptation Strategies on the Effects of Climate Change among Fishing Communities in Luzon.” The results of these studies will be the bases for its third study on its second year, entitled “Capacitating Fishing Communities on Climate Change Adaptation Strategies towards Improved Resiliency.” It aims to enhance the capacity of fishing communities in coping and mitigating the negative effects of climate change. Capacity- building activities such as lectures/seminars, trainings, and workshops will be conducted.
The study sites are lake areas that are most frequently visited by typhoons or experience extreme weather conditions.
These are the major lakeshore communities in Regions 4A, 4B, and 5 particularly those communities in Laguna and Rizal surrounding the Laguna Lake and the Taal Lake in Batangas (Region 4A); Naujan Lake in Oriental Mindoro (Region 4B), and Lakes Bato and Buhi in Camarines Sur (Region 5).
Joining Dr. Nguyen in this project are CISC Director Blanquita R. Pantoja and Ms.
Maria Francesca O. Tan as study leaders, and Ms. Francisca O. Tan and Ms. Flordeliza A. Sanchez as project staff. n Francisca O. Tan
Photo by Stella Concepcion R. Britanico
