The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), through its Community Outreach Program–Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (COP-BIDANI), formally entered into a three-year partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Dionisio, Iloilo. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on April 26, 2026, at Training Room 1, Graduate and Continuing Education Building (GCEB), UPV Iloilo City Campus.
The agreement is set to implement various BIDANI programs and projects across ten beneficiary barangays, with the goal of strengthening local governance and improving nutrition outcomes in the municipality.
Attendance and Program Details
The signing ceremony was graced by Municipal Mayor Hon. Sally A. Lopez. Barangay representatives in attendance included Hon. Mary Ann Hechanova (Cubay), Hon. Ian Guillermo (Manduawak), Hon. Alex Blancis (Moto), Hon. Cecilia Balogo (Naburot), Hon. Mary Lyn Cumawas (Siempreviva), and Hon. Delfin Cayetano III (Talo-ato), along with representatives from Capinang and Tiabas. Barangays Agdaliran and Odiongan, represented by Hon. Tomas Barillos and Hon. Josephine Arbis, respectively, are also included as project beneficiaries but were unable to attend.
University officials present were Prof. Pepito R. Fernandez Jr., Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); Prof. Alice Prieto, CAS Secretary; and Prof. Jose Rene Sansait, Chair of the Division of Social Sciences.
Ms. Elna Mariel Nanta-Dioso, University Extension Associate, provided an overview of the MOA, detailing the expected outputs and benefits. Key interventions will include capacity-building, training, and technical assistance for BIDANI strategies such as the Barangay Management Information System (BMIS), the Barangay Integrated Development Approach (BIDA), and the Participatory Nutrition Enhancement Approach (PNEA). The partnership also includes deploying BA (Community Development) students for on-the-job training, fieldwork, and community immersion.
Commitment to Public Service and Development
In her welcome remarks, CAS Secretary Prof. Prieto highlighted the renewed collaboration, noting that the partnership with San Dionisio began in 2022 through the Division of Social Sciences’ Community Development Cluster and COP-BIDANI. She recalled that students previously assisted with community profiling, which helped update municipal databases for evidence-based planning, and expressed hope for continued positive initiatives.
Delivering a message on behalf of the Chancellor, Dean Fernandez stressed that addressing malnutrition is a shared responsibility, emphasizing the importance of investing in children’s health. He affirmed UPV’s mandate for public service, which extends beyond instruction to impactful community engagement. He stated that the three-year partnership is designed to enhance the capacity of local government units to foster food security and good governance.
Mayor Lopez expressed deep gratitude for UPV’s ongoing support. She acknowledged previous successes, citing improved data reporting among barangays like Tiabas, Capinang, Moto, and Agdaliran, which participated in the BMIS program. She emphasized that BMIS is crucial for providing accurate, timely data, leading to better local planning and more responsive governance. “We are building a future where San Dionisio truly feels development from the heart,” she concluded.
The ceremony concluded with the formal signing, followed by closing remarks from Asst. Prof. Czarinnah G. Araneta, Faculty-in-Charge of COP-BIDANI and Chair of the CAS Public Service Committee, thanked the LGU for their trust and emphasized the broader opportunities this partnership presents for both the LGU and the CAS.
The COP-BIDANI team is composed of Asst. Prof. Araneta, Faculty-in-Charge; Mr. Prabhat Ranjan Ubas and Ms. Elna Mariel Nanta-Dioso, University Extension Associates; and Mr. Joemar C. Cagampang, Administrative Aide III. The team will lead the implementation of program activities throughout the partnership.
Written by Elna Mariel Nanta-Dioso, COP-BIDANI
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