“The University is prepared to journey with you all the way.” This is the commitment made by University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Chancellor Dr. Clement C. Camposano during the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between UPV and the Department of Education – Schools Division of Negros Occidental (DepEd SDO-Negros Occidental), a schools division composed of 20 municipalities and 1 city divided into 35 districts.
The partnership, formalized through a ceremony on Monday, 26 June 2023, at Forest Park Resort, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental includes a year-long series of collaborative activities to strengthen and cultivate a culture of research in the Schools Division of Negros Occidental.
Aside from Camposano who attended virtually, UPV CAS Division of Professional Education (DoProfEd) Chairperson Prof. Pepito R. Fernandez, Jr., UPV CAS Community Outreach Program/BIDANI (COP/BIDANI) Director Asst. Prof. Josephine T. Firmase, and DepEd SDO-Negros South Assistant Schools Division Superintendent (ASDS) Ms. Lynie A. Peñaflor were also present via Zoom. Meanwhile, DepEd SDO-Negros Occidental Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) Chief Dr. Zaldy H. Reliquias, and DepEd SDO-Negros Occidental OIC ASDS North Negros Ms. Salvacion J. Senayo and DepEd SDO-Negros Occidental Senior Education Program Specialist – Planning and Research Dr. Ma. Melanie P. Romero attended the ceremony in-person. The ceremony was witnessed by the UPV Action Research Project Managers, DepEd SDO-Negros Occidental personnel, and district coordinators. University of St. La Salle (USLS) - Bacolod Assistant Vice Chancellor Dr. Romeo G. Teruel was also present for the MOA signing between the DepEd SDO-Negros Occidental and USLS.
The MOA will be implemented by the Action Research Project Team (ARPT), a collaborative public service initiative of the UPV-CAS COP-BIDANI and the UPV-CAS Division of Professional Education. The ARPT is managed by Asst. Prof. Jeena A. Amoto (Project Manager) of the DoProfEd, Ms. Elna Mariel N. Nanta (Co-Project Manager) of COP-BIDANI, and Asst. Prof. Donne Jone P. Sodusta (Assistant Project Manager for Youth 4mation) of DoProfEd. Asst. Prof. Josephine Firmase, Coordinator of COP-BIDANI and Prof. Pepito R. Fernandez, Jr. serve as advisers. Along with them are the project implementers and a student volunteer.
