Empowering Communities: Unleashing the Potential of Partnership through RED Monitoring and Evaluation Training

GOVPH

The Community Building Partnership: A Research Exploration and Development (RED) Monitoring and Evaluation Training was held on May 12, 2023, at the Cebu Normal University (CNU) Balamban Campus, and was organized by the External Affairs and International Linkages in collaboration with three barangays in Balamban Cebu (Nangka, Sunog, and Gaas). The training program was a huge success that left a lasting impression on all participants, with the goal of providing extension workers with the necessary skills and knowledge for conducting community-engaged extension programs, with a particular emphasis on monitoring and evaluation.

The training program attracted diverse participants, including Barangay officials, teachers, and beneficiaries from three barangays: Sunog, Gaas, and Nangka, collectively known as “SUGA NA!” with a vision: United Barangays with a passion for sustainable development using resilient technologies in collaboration with different stakeholders towards healthy and progressive agripreneurs. Their active participation showcased their commitment to community engagement and their recognition of the importance of monitoring and evaluation in extension work. Their presence enhanced the training course by encouraging insightful talk and information exchange among participants.

Director Naila Beltran (Director, External Affairs and International Linkages), expressed her appreciation to those who attended the training. She expressed her gratitude in her message for their consistent attendance and enthusiastic participation, despite circumstances beyond their control. She emphasized the importance of increasing productivity and income, as required by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and necessary for daily survival. Director Beltran emphasized the daily challenges that individuals face and the importance of preparation and resilience in overcoming them.

Director Naila Beltran (Director, External Affairs and International Linkages) with poise and eloquence, she delivered her welcome remarks, captivating the audience with her words. Her rationale resonated, infusing the room with inspiration and signaling

Additionally, she expressed the joy she felt at the participants’ resolve to attend the training with a passionate heart. The importance of building a reputation for being receptive to the needs of the community and the environment was emphasized by Director Beltran for Cebu Normal University. She emphasized the need for Cebu Normal University to establish a reputation for responsiveness to the environment and the community’s needs. She highlighted the university’s vision of seeking opportunities to improve livelihoods and identifying possible niches for development.

The engaging session led by Dr. Carolyn May O. Daquio (former Center Director, ATI 7), a highly respected expert and resource person for the morning and afternoon sessions, was a standout moment of the training program. As a former Center Director of the Agricultural Institute of Bohol with a wealth of knowledge, Dr. Daquio offered priceless insights into community-engaged extension work.

Dr. Daquio presented a thorough framework for rural development through extension services in the morning session, engaging participants in understanding the vital components and their connections. Participants’ understanding of the difficulties involved in fostering development and growth of the community through extension initiatives was heightened by this practical activity.

Dr. Carolyn May O. Daquio (Former Center Director ATI 7) guiding the way with expertise and passion, the resource person orchestrates an engaging activity, capturing the attention of all.

In the afternoon session, Dr. Daquio shared her knowledge of agritourism as well as her travel experiences, particularly in Bali. Her presentation highlighted the potential of agritourism as an extension strategy for long-term community development. Participants gained valuable insights into the principles and practices of agritourism and how they can be applied in their own communities.

Following Dr. Daquio’s presentation, participants engaged in a collaborative action planning session, either within their groups or by barangay, with the assistance of the College extension chairs. This session provided an opportunity for participants to put their knowledge from the day to use and create concrete strategies and initiatives for community development through extension programs.

Afterwards, participants were given the opportunity to present their action plans to the group. Dr. Carolyn May O. Daquio was critical in evaluating the participants’ outputs, providing valuable feedback and insights to further improve the action plans. Her evaluation encouraged critical thinking and refinement, ensuring that the proposed strategies were well-founded and aligned with the goals of sustainable community development through extension efforts.

A moment of strategic vision and empowerment unfolds as representatives from each barangay confidently present their meticulously crafted action plans. With unwavering determination, they outline their strategies for positive change, illustrating a share.

The integration of the evaluation component in the afternoon session reinforced the importance of accountability and evidence-based decision-making in community development. It emphasized the need for thorough monitoring and evaluation to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of proposed extension interventions, thereby promoting continuous learning and improvement within the community.

The presence of Barangay officials, teachers, and SUGA NA beneficiaries aided the training program significantly. Their active participation and firsthand knowledge enriched the discussions by providing practical and nuanced perspectives. The diverse group of participants promoted a holistic learning environment and emphasized the value of collaborative efforts in community building through extension initiatives.

A dynamic display of participation unfolds as participants eagerly immerse themselves in the invigorating activity. United by shared purpose, they contribute their energy, ideas, and smiles, forming a tapestry of collaboration.

Mr. Abel A. Tolero, the representative of the Balamban Mayor, is presented with a well-deserved certificate. Assisted by Ms. Cherry G. Dumdum (Extension Chair, Balamban Campus) and Dir. Naila Y. Beltran (Director, External Affairs and International Linkages) they stand united in honoring his outstanding contributions. It is a moment of recognition and camaraderie that symbolizes the power of collaboration and achievement.

Radiating with pride and celebration, a remarkable SUGA-NA beneficiary is embraced by a symphony of support as they receive a well-deserved certificate. Guided by the illustrious presence of Dir. Naila Y. Beltran (Director, External Affairs and International Linkages Dr. Carolyn May O. Daquio (Former Center Director, ATI 7), and the College Extension Chairs, this captivating moment encapsulates the transformative power of education and collaboration.

This Privacy Policy is adopted in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173), its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), and other relevant issuances of the National Privacy Commission (NPC). The University is committed to protecting and respecting your personal data privacy. We process personal information in accordance with the principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality. This Policy informs how we collect, use, disclose, store, protect, and dispose personal information of our data subjects.

Definitions

Personal information refers to any information, whether recorded in a material form or not, from which the identity of an individual is apparent or can be reasonably and directly ascertained by the entity holding the information or when put together with other information that would directly and certainly identify an individual.

Sensitive information is a type of personal information with the risk of discrimination against the Data Subject. These are about an identifiable person’s racial or ethnic origin, marital status, color, and religious, philosophical, or political affiliations. It is also, about an individual’s health, education, the genetic or sexual life of person, or any proceeding for any offense committed or alleged to have been committed by such person, the disposal of such proceedings, or the sentence of any court in such proceedings; Issued by government agencies peculiar to an individual which includes, but not limited to, social security numbers, previous or current health records, licenses or its denials, suspension or revocation, and tax returns; and specifically established by an executive order or an act of Congress to be kept classified.

Privileged information refers to any and all forms of data which under the Rules of Court and other pertinent laws constitute privileged communication.

Information We Collect

The University may collect personal information in the context of its regular functions — including but not limited to the following categories:

Students: contact and enrollment details, academic records, health or medical records, accommodation records, student-activity participation, and related data.
Staff and job applicants: contact details, employment history, qualifications, employee-related data.
Alumni profiling: contact and demographic details.
Visitors, volunteers, and other stakeholders: information collected through sign-in forms, CCTV or security monitoring, photos or recordings during official events, surveys, and feedback forms.

Collection may occur by any medium, including: paper forms, electronic forms, email, website or online platforms, CCTV or video/photographic capture, surveys/questionnaires, and other lawful means.

Purposes and Uses of the Data Collected and Processed

Personal information collected may be used for:

Administration of admission, enrollment, employment, alumni relations, and other official functions.
Maintenance of student and employee records, including academic, health, and administrative data.
Provision of University services such as counseling, scholarship administration, placement, library access, facilities use, laboratory access, security, parking, and accommodation.
Internal research, quality assurance, performance monitoring, and institutional planning.
Compliance with statutory obligations (e.g. reporting to government agencies when required).
Security, safety, and campus management, including CCTV monitoring.

Legal Basis / Lawful Criteria for Processing

All processing of personal data is carried out in accordance with the legality, fairness, and lawfulness requirements under the Data Privacy Act and IRR.
Where applicable, processing is grounded on consent, contract, legal obligation, legitimate interest, or other lawful bases recognized under the law. The choice of lawful basis depends on the nature of data, the purpose of processing, and legal or contractual requirements.

Manner of Collection and Processing

Personal data may be collected through physical forms (paper-based), electronic forms, online or web-based platforms (e.g., registration portals, email, institutional website), CCTV or video/photo capture (for security or surveillance), event sign-in sheets or registration forms, surveys or questionnaires, or other legitimate and lawful means.

Processing may include collection, recording, sorting, storing, retrieval, use, updating, modification, blocking, destruction or other operations as allowed under the law, consistent with declared purposes.

Disclosure of Information

The University does not disclose personal information except under the following circumstances:

Internal disclosure within authorized University personnel, only when necessary and appropriate for legitimate institutional purposes.
External disclosure only when required or permitted by law (e.g. statutory obligations), or when the data subject has provided valid consent.
Sensitive personal information or privileged information is processed and disclosed only in accordance with relevant legal provisions.

Risks, Safeguards and Security Measures

The University recognizes that processing of personal data entails certain privacy and security risks. Accordingly, we implement appropriate organizational, technical, and physical security safeguards to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal data — whether in electronic or physical form. Such measures include (but are not limited to):

Access controls (both digital and physical) to restrict access only to authorized personnel
Use of secure storage: locked filing cabinets or secure rooms for physical records; password-protected systems, encryption, secure servers, firewalls for electronic data
Secure transmission of data (when shared or transferred), secure printing and disposal protocols, and safe deletion or destruction of data when no longer needed
Classification of data and periodic review of security protocols, to ensure adequacy in light of the risks presented and sensitivity of the data processed

Rights of Data Subjects

Under the Data Privacy Act and its IRR, data subjects have the following rights:

Right to be informed — you have the right to know whether personal information about you will be, is being, or has been processed; the purposes of processing; the personal data to be entered; and the scope and method of processing.
Right to access, correct, or update your data — you may request access to your personal information, ask for rectification of inaccuracies, or request updates.
Right to object or withdraw consent — when processing is based on consent or legitimate interest, you may withdraw consent or object, subject to legal limits.
Right to data portability — where applicable, you may obtain a copy of your personal data in a secure and portable format for transfer to another controller.
Right to erasure or blocking — if personal data is incomplete, outdated, unlawfully obtained or processed, no longer necessary, or processing is unauthorized, you may request erasure or blocking, subject to legitimate grounds for retention (e.g. legal obligations or defense of legal claims).
Right to damages — you may seek indemnification for damages resulting from inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, unlawfully obtained or unauthorized use of your personal data.
Right to lodge a complaint with the NPC if you believe your data privacy rights have been violated.

Requests for access, rectification, objection, portability, erasure or complaints may be submitted in writing to the University’s designated Data Protection Officer (DPO) or Data Privacy Office.

Security, Retention, and Disposal

The University implements appropriate organizational, technical, and physical security measures to safeguard personal data — whether in paper or electronic form — against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Such measures include: secure storage (locked filing cabinets or rooms), restricted access to authorized personnel only, use of locked screens/screensavers, secure transmission (sealed envelopes or secure electronic transmission), secure printing and disposal of documents, and safe deletion or destruction of data when no longer needed.

Personal data will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the declared and legitimate purposes, or as required for legal obligations or defense of legal claims. When no longer needed, personal data will be disposed of securely in accordance with University policy and relevant data-protection guidelines.

Consent, Notice, and Legitimate Processing

Where required by law, consent will be obtained from data subjects prior to collection or processing of their personal or sensitive data. In other cases (e.g. CCTV monitoring, legitimate interest), the University will inform data subjects through appropriate notice mechanisms before or at the time of data collection. Privacy notice(s) will accompany data-collection forms or be posted in conspicuous campus areas, and on the University website. At all times, data processing is based on legitimate purpose and proportional to the need.

Data Subject Access and Contact

To exercise your rights or if you have any inquiry, concern, or request regarding your personal data, please contact:

Omar B. Roma

Data Protection Officer
Email: dpo@cnu.edu.ph
Phone: 09422041421

Changes to This Policy

The University reserves the right to update or amend this Privacy Policy as necessary to reflect changes in applicable laws, regulations, regulatory guidance, or its internal data-processing practices. Updated versions will be posted on the University’s official website and, where appropriate, communicated to data subjects.

Policy Statement