On March 2, 2023, the Office of External Affairs and International Linkages held its annual In-House Review at Tandang Sora Hall, Cebu Normal University. This annual in-house extension project review is one of the most important activities for developing valuable skills, increasing coordination, and raising the project profile. It will bring together the faculty and partner agencies involved in community building, and a representative from each project attended the aforementioned event.
This Project In-House Review is one of the core processes of the Extension Services for the depressed, deprived, and underserved. This review will assess the sustainability, viability, and impact of the new extension projects of faculty extensionists who do not have projects as part of their MFO4 functions at the university.
The goal of an Extension Project In-House Review is to enable the project proponents enough time to prepare next-phase proposals for existing projects for additional funding or to start a new extension project based on community needs.
With a total of 43 extension projects that were successfully presented, the School of Arts presented twelve (12) extension projects, the School of Sciences presented four (4) extension projects, the College of Teacher Education presented twelve (12) extension projects, the College of Nursing presented eight (8) extension projects, the Balamban Campus presented four (4) extension projects, and the Medellin Campus presented three (3) extension projects. This activity aims to determine whether they wish to keep working on the extension projects, terminate them, or start new ones.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Angeline M. Pogoy, Vice-President for Research, Extension and Publication, emphasized that as a Higher Education Institution, we fulfilled a mandate in instruction, Extensions, and Research. She stated that the E-HELP program, led by Director Naila Y. Beltran has adopted communities and various projects in Education, Health, Environment, Livelihood, and Peace (E-HELP). Every year, the university conducts a call for project proposals and conducts the In-House Review to maximized the use of government resources for extension services. Several extension projects were implemented, monitored, and evaluated, or impact studies, MOAs, resolutions, and even some registered utility models and copyrighted modules were published as outputs.
“We’ve gotten this far because it began with careful planning and dedication of people, and with the synergy in the university, we’ve grown exponentially as evidenced by our accomplishments every year,” she explained.
Several extension projects from different colleges and campuses were implemented, monitored, and along the way they have done some challenges and she knew that the extension project proponents experience that also, but even though those things that come to their way they have thrived and hope to continue doing the mandate with a commitment, dedications and diverse talent in the university and the community.
Today, with the new projects that are proposed, they will do the in-house review in extension services with their experience and expertise and will continue to work together in demonstrating the culture as to make the extension services relevant and significant to empower and improved our adaptive communities.
Dr. Josefino A. Ronquillo (Supervising Education Program Specialist, CHED ROVII), Dr. Merinisa J. Olvido (Public School District Supervisor, DepEd Mandaue City), Dr. Jonah Lydia Langga (Chief Nurse Officer, Saint Anthony Mother and Child), and Dr. Jestoni P. Babia (School Dean/Director, University of San Jose Recoletos) are the experts who have been invited to assess and evaluate the extension projects.
Director Naila Y. Beltran clearly presented her Rationale and Updates on Extension Activity Delivery and Documentation. She discussed the Legal Framework, the Extension Process Overview, and the Food Framework Agreement. She outlined the various mandates, an overview of extension services in Philippine Higher Education, as well as the goals of HEIs. She defined Extension Work as a collaborative, purposeful activity by the various members of HEI aimed at contributing to empowerment for identified communities so that the latter can eventually achieve development and inclusive growth on their own.
“As a collaborative, purposive activity it is assumed that extension service-in order to respond to the needs and requirements of the identified community-shall web together the functional expertise of the three pillars of higher education: instruction, research, and extension”.
Pertaining to the Extension process, she discussed the Pre-Assessment Phase, which includes the following steps: Identification of the Project Site; Meeting with Officials; Environmental Scanning; Needs Assessment/Benchmarking; MOA Signing; and Community People Orientation.
Furthermore, she also highlighted the Intervention Phase, which is a significant stage in consulting with various stakeholders before submitting a project proposal. The project proponents must submit a proposal for pre-screening, a project internal review for external evaluation, approval of the project proposal for funding, submission of a program of work, implementation, and submission of an accomplishment report at the assertion of the implementation of extension projects.
She went into great detail about the guiding principles of community development during her speeches. The community itself establishes the aims and purposes of extension initiatives; Extensionists’ duty is to direct and support the realization of these objectives.
Afterwards, she discussed the Extension Food Framework Procedure and the implementation period is April to December 2023 under the first come first served basis.
In his keynote presentation, Dr. Josefino A. Ronquillo focused on the Community: Socio-Economic Development for Sustainability and International Zone Network. He briefly talked on integrating the SDGs into the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 as well as the Millennium Development Goals, SGDs, and Ambisyon Natin 2040, which embody the collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for themselves and for the nation up to 2040.
In addition, Dr. Ronquillo shared several key takeaways with the audience, emphasizing that in light of the information aforementioned, the following must be considered when making decisions: “What do we need to do” Who will carry it out? Whom, When, and How do we need to act? How do we do it? How much do the beneficiaries of our stakeholder’s benefit? To address Dr. Ronquillo’s conclusions, we need to take aggressive actions to address the issues preventing the Philippines from meeting the 17 SDGs in accordance with the revised 2030 objectives and Ambisyon Natin 2040 incorporated within the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028. For the benefit of the Community/Stakeholders, the CNU and Community Partners will carry it out. How will it be accomplished? By partnerships, collaboration, and connections. Lastly, how much will the Stakeholders benefit? It is both locally and globally.
A question-and-answer segment immediately followed the presentations where an invited Resource Persons expressed clarifications on the result and utilization of the extension programs.
Subsequently, the breakout sessions began, with representatives from each extension project conveying. Dr. Ronquillo evaluated the extension projects presented by the Medellin and Balamban Campuses at the Office of External Affairs and International Linkages, Dr. Merinisa Olvido evaluated the extension projects of the College of Teacher Education and ILS at the CTE extension office, Dr. Jonah Lydia Langga evaluated the extension projects of the College of Nursing at the CN e-classroom, and Dr. Jestoni Babia evaluated the extension projects of CAS-School of Arts and School of Sciences at Tandang Sora Hall.
The EAIL team would like to extend their gratitude to the Resource Persons who analyzed and reviewed the extension projects as well as to the project proponents for their efforts in delivering extension services. (LET)
