To strengthen research culture not only means allowing grassroots teachers into consuming and producing knowledge, but also engaging them to go through the processes and mechanisms of consuming and producing knowledge through quality control, UP Visayas Chancellor Dr. Clement Camposano emphasized during the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) and partner Department of Education – Schools Division of Aklan (DepEd SDO-Aklan).
The partnership, formalized through a ceremony on Friday, 26 May 2023, at Hotel Metro Sky Bar and Restaurant in Kalibo, Aklan, means that UPV and DepEd SDO-Aklan will be engaging in a year-long series of collaborative activities to strengthen and cultivate a culture of research in the Schools Division.
“This is the first time that we forged collaboration with DepEd SDO-Aklan and I am glad that the UPV Action Research Project of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) paved the way for us to extend our network to reach grassroots communities [this far] especially with the basic education sector. This means a lot for us in the University as I envisioned a strong collaboration and partnership with agencies here in Western Visayas,” Camposano said.
“This partnership will be fruitful because of the strong line-up of implementers and advocates from various divisions of the CAS,” he added. He also acknowledged the project’s collaboration with DepEd Region VI, highlighting the devised appraisal tools for research proposal and completed research output being used to fine-tune research outputs.
“Alongside capability-building activities [in writing research papers] for grassroots teachers in the Schools Division, I am looking forward for the success of this partnership in the streamlining of processes and dissemination of outputs which I believe is most important in the arduous work of engaging in research,” he emphasized.
MOA Signing Ceremony
Aside from Camposano, the ceremony was graced by DepEd SDO-Aklan Senior Education Program Specialist (SEPS) for Planning and Research Dr. Darren N. Naelgas, OIC-Education Program Supervisor for Schools Governance and Operations Division (SGOD) Mr. Charlie I. Ureta, Senior Education Specialist for Social Mobilization and Networking Arch. Mar Bien Gregory G. Parel, CAS-UPV Division of Professional Education (DoProfEd) Chairperson Prof. Pepito R. Fernandez, Jr., CAS-UPV Community Outreach Program/BIDANI (COP/BIDANI) Director Asst. Prof. Josephine T. Firmase. The ceremony was witnessed by the UPV Action Research Project managers and individual advocates and the division heads, personnel, division researchers, and innovators of the DepEd SDO-Aklan.
Dr. Naelgas thanked UPV and the Action Research Project managers for “paving the way to make this partnership possible.”
“This has been long overdue. I am greatly honored for making this possible as this is what the late Dr. Raffy F. Paller, former SEPS for Planning and Research, originally planned. We did it. And I am proud that this is the first [formalized] MOA of UPV Action Research Project for the year 2023,” he said.
“We promise to be engaged. We promise to cooperate. And we promise to continue to become champions in the region with UP Visayas and the UPV Action Research Project team,” Naelgas added.
The signatories and witnessing parties ended the ceremony through a resounding applause and shouting, “Hala Bira, Aklan!” signifying their strong commitment to the collaboration.
The Implementing Team
The Action Research Project is UPV’s implementing team for the MOA. It is a public service collaboration between UPV-CAS Division of Professional Education (DoProfEd), UPV-CAS COP/BIDANI, and individual advocates from other Divisions of UPV-CAS.
The project is led by Asst. Prof. Jeena A. Amoto (Project Manager) of the DoProfEd, Ms. Elna Mariel N. Nanta (Co-Project Manager) of COP/BIDANI, Asst. Prof. Donne Jone P. Sodusta (Assistant Project Manager for Youth 4mation) of DoProfEd. Along with them are the project implementers and a student volunteer.
The project implementers and individual advocates from the Division of Professional Education are: Asst. Prof. Hermie F. Cartagena, Dr. Lovella S. Divinagracia, Asst. Prof. Ronella S. Jundos, Ms. Gerthrode Charlotte Tan-Mabilog, Asso. Prof. Dominique J. Maquiran, Mr. Rey Alexander V. Palmares, Mr. Noel Galon, Asst. Prof. Aileen C. Chong, Engr. Vicente M. Armones, Asst. Prof. Jonevee Amparo, and Prof. Pepito R. Fernandez, Jr. (Adviser).
The project implementers and individual advocates from the Division of Social Sciences are: Asst. Prof. Augil Marie Q. Robles, Dr. Johnrev B. Guilaran, Asst. Prof. Aniceta Patricia T. Alingasa, Asst. Prof. Bernice Vania L. Mamauag, Asst. Prof. Brian C. Ventura, Ms. Helen Grace Q. Fernandez, and Prof. Tomasito T. Talledo.
The project implementers and individual advocates from the COP/BIDANI and Division of Humanities are: Mr. Marianito M. Ramirez, Mr. Joemar C. Cagampang (Personnel In-Charge of Logistics), Asst. Prof. Josephine T. Firmase (Adviser), and Ms. Myra Angeline P. Soriaso (Student Volunteer).
