• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The Philippine Genome Center Visayas has already received its set of Next Generation Sequencers to capacitate the center for whole genome sequencing to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants in the region. PGC Visayas acquired the sequencers through the funding support of the Department of Budget and Management. Installation of the sequencers commenced last Thursday (Jan. 20) at the PGC Visayas Laboratories at the Regional Research Center of UPV in Miagao, Iloilo. Installation is set to be complete over the weekend, and the initial trial run will commence on Monday (Jan. 24). Another series of minor runs will follow this over the next two weeks to optimize all the systems in place. Full operations are targeted to start by the 3rd or 4th week of February, upon which PGC Visayas will be able to sequence around 350-375 samples per week. The sequencers acquired by PGC Visayas, the Illumina ISeq 100, and Illumina NextSeq 1000 (distributed and locally supported by Lifeline Diagnostics) are some of the latest sequencing platforms available in the market, with the installation of the NextSeq 1000 being the first in the Philippines.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

The  Sixth International Conference for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (ICFAS 6) of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) was jointly held with the first forum of the Asian Fisheries Social Science Research Network (AFSSRN F1) on November 24-26, 2021,  via Zoom,  with the theme: The Science and Art of Fisheries and Aquaculture: Life Above and Below Waters to highlight the synergy between science and arts and the transdisciplinarity in fisheries and aquaculture. The joint international conference was hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) in partnership with the AFSSRN, a section of the Asian Fisheries Society.

The University of the Philippines Visayas College School of Technology was given the Gawad Pangulo Award for Excellence in Public Service for the project: Production of ethanol-based hand rub for frontline workers. The award was given on December 16, 2021, in a virtual ceremony organized by the University of the Philippines.  SOTECH was awarded for its exemplary and innovative work that contributed to the fulfillment of UPs Mandate to lead as a public service university and to the nation’s response to the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Upholding its mission for a sustainable and responsive aquaculture practices, Algacon Aquafeeds Manufacturing secures funding for upscaling its production of Juan Algae Paste through DOST PCAARRD Startup Grant Fund Program. 

The family of the UPV guard, Antonio Fajurano, who died at the height of Typhoon Odette, received a swell of donations from various groups and individuals through the UPdanay Donation Drive.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Filipino farmers and food processors work hard to deliver high-quality, tasty, and affordable food to feed the nation. As food technologists and consumers of their products, it is only proper to support and assist them in ways that could enhance their processes. Heeding to this responsibility, the UPV-SoTech Dairy Research Team conducted a food safety training workshop focused on dairy carabao farmers and milk processors. With Mr. Jan Roland Molina, Ms. Wendee Marbebe, Mr. Roi Sirach Lagon, and Ms. Charnie Nieles, the organizing team was led by Dr. Jihan Santanina Santiago-Alumbro. 

With participants coming from the different service units of the University of the Philippines Visayas, the Language Program (LP) conducted the second wave of its “Communications at the Workplace” remote training program, from Nov. 11 to Dec. 9, 2021.

As we go deeper into the Digital age, Software Development has been one of the flourishing industries. With the industry's growth, developing software from scratch may be difficult as most global tech companies hold proprietary claims over most software development tools. 

UPV joins Iloilo Arts Festival 2021 with the partial opening of its three galleries - the Ed Defensor Gallery, the Nelfa Querubin Gallery, and the Lantip (Changing Exhibition Gallery) - in the UPV Museum in the city campus on December 6.