The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research Development (PCAARRD) revives its support to the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Program (ViCARP) this year, 2015. This is to address the need to strengthen further such partnership to make Science and Technology development efforts more visible in the region and more appreciated by the policy-makers.

Dr. Edwin C. Villar, Director for Livestock Research Division of PCAARRD, formally announced as he graces the opening program during the 26^th Regional RDE Symposium held last March 17-18, 2015 at the VSU Convention Hall. He said that PCAARRD will revive and renew its engagement with the consortium. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing will commence in June 2015 with a theme “Strengthening Partnership, Delivering Results”.

In his message, he further elaborated that Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, the new Acting Executive Director of PCAARRD, has laid out initially his platform of governance in Research and Development management which includes the revival of PCAARRD’s active support and engagement with the consortia. Dr. Ebora believes that the consortium is a potent mechanism to deliver the Council’s deliverables based on its mandate and functions. But certainly the engagement with the consortium will not be the business as usual type. “We will identify particular tasks and specific management components which the Council can delegate to the Regional Consortia. For example, the consortium should include the conduct of a regional pest and disease/hazard surveillance as an added task including packaging programs on hazard mitigation and the crafting of a regional quick response mechanism”, he added.

Furthermore, he stressed “we will identify what are the specific PCAARRD expectations from the consortia and what they should deliver. We will also discern the benefits and costs to be derived from undertaking certain tasks and what are their relative importance for mainstreaming/adoption purposes”.

PCAARRD’s engagement with the Consortium will be anchored on the Industry Strategic Programs (ISP) based on the current 34 PCAARRD ISPs. It will look closely on the RDC regional priorities, the consortium member-agency’s current RDE agenda and the DOST’s 8-Point Desired Outcomes.

There are more initiatives which PCAARRD have already put on the table citing their experiences in the recent past particularly on packaging programs and technology transfer.

With this initiative, VICARP is set to bring more impact and change in the research and development scenario in Eastern Visayas.

Greetings…

“Where your heart is, is where your home is.”

I’ve said same phrase two years ago in welcoming the alumni and I think it is worth repeating in this occasion. Your coming back to our alma mater means your hearts are with Visayas State University. For that we are all thankful. Welcome home! Welcome to your alma mater!

While you were away let me assure you that your alma mater is in good hands.

The quality of our instruction continued to soar. Thanks to Dr, Edgardo Tulin’s leadership.

Our first batch of Civil Engineers had 100% passing rate in the PRC Board Examination, our senior students in Mechanical Engineering had 100% passing rate in PRC Board examination m for Plant Mechanics, our nursing graduates have 94.2% passing rate making us one of the best school for nursing in the country and we have a board topnotcher in the PRC Board exam for Agriculture in the person of Mr. Nick Oswald  Borines. These are just some results of the board examinations our graduates took.

On programs, our agriculture program attained level IV- the highest level of accreditation. We have the highest number of Level III accredited programs among SUCs. Our university continues to be an ecologically friendly university. In 2013, our university was hailed as the most eco-friendliest/most sustainable campus in the Philippines.

On research and extension, we have not experience a year like this-when external funds for research is on the highest in the history of this institution. Thanks to Dr. Othello Capuno our VP for research and extension. We are now implementing relevant researches and extension in partnership with international agencies, LGUs, civil societies and line agencies. We are helping our brothers that were severely affected by Typhoon Yolanda and succeeding typhoons, rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

On resource generation, last year and we expect same this year, couldn’t be better. Our businesses were and are doing well. Thanks to Dr Vic Asio.  We have now undoubtedly become an event and tourist destination, an R&R university meaning a research and resort university.

On facility development, you just have to go around the campus to see and believed.  We owe this to the leadership of Dr. Roberto Guarte.

This afternoon, we launched the new function hall of our VSU Hostel. We will also be constructing a restaurant next to the Hostel so the VSU Hostel occupants need not walk to the guest house to eat or CCE for meeting. We will renovate the rooms so you will not try to outdo each other anymore to get rooms in VSU Apartelle.

We also had the newly renovated convention hall blessed. The building has undergone renovation in looks and now better floors. The rest rooms will also be renovated to meet international standards. To be truly a convention facility, another air conditioned break-up room will be added.

We are constructing an Olympic size swimming pool at Molave Hills and two new basketball courts, two new volleyball courts, two new tennis courts and host of other facilities for sports events in our upper campus sports complex. We will be more than ready to host the SCUAA this October.

We are working on the final phase of our new library. We have renovated and is converting the greenhouses along ITEEM into classrooms. We are adding new dormitory and studio apartments. We are adding another building for our engineering programs. We are working on the final phase of our new library.

We have other projects to implement this year but we don’t have enough time to discuss each one of them.

So folks, rest assured that your university/ your home is in good hands. As much as you love this university, we who are left behind also do.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the alumni for your trust and support to this stewardship.  As great rivers are formed by small tributaries, our university today is a product of contribution of each one of us, of each one in the university and even the community. It was truly an eight-year period of shared stewardship and all indications seem to suggest that we succeeded.

(but) Like water in the river, it has to flow out of the sea or the river will stagnate and stink.

My term will end this October, I have served notice to our BOR and I can’t wait a day longer to go back to research and farming.

Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you from the bottom of the hearts of all the present administrators of the Visayas State U.

JOSE L. BACUSMO 

The ever loyal ViSCA/LSU/VSU alumni who are now based in the United States of America and organized the ViSCA Alumni Association in North America (VAANA) held on April 3-5, 2015 its 2^nd VAANA Reunion at Gold Coast Casino, Las Vegas, USA.  Attended by 19 alumni together with 30 family members and guests, the gathering was spearheaded by Jess Diongzon, Joel and Zarah  Borines, and other VAANA members. 

Honorable Carlos Jericho “Icot” L. Petilla, Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Philippines, inspired the 1,062 graduates of the Visayas State University (VSU) as the Commencement Speaker during the 62^nd VSU Commencement Exercises in the morning of April 22, 2015 at the VSU Gymnatorium. 

The Baybay Food Processors Association (BFPA), represented by its president, Ms. Martha Y. Villalino, and Mr. Felizardo G. Darasin, a locally-registered jackfruit farmer, entered into a marketing agreement for the Pinoy Science and Technology Services for Farmers and Entrepreneurs (PSF) Program of PCAARD on April 6, 2015 at the G/F, Center for Continuing Education, VSU, Baybay City, Leyte.

The Visayas State University (VSU), through its President Jose L. Bacusmo, and the Local Government Unit of the Municipality of Dalaguete in the Province of Cebu, through its Mayor Ronald Allan G. Cesante, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Scholarship Grant among college students who are bona fide residents of Dalaguete, Cebu and passed the Dalaguete Municipal Scholarship Program (DMSP) Qualifying Examination.  VSU was identified as one of the institutions to accommodate DMSP scholars who will be enrolled in any degree programs related to agriculture, education, environmental science, and computer.

The Visayas State University shall bestow 112 medals to this year’s graduates with Latin honors: (Baccalaureate Degrees) Summa Cum Laude – 1, Magna Cum Laude – 11, Cum Laude – 96; (Certificate Course) With High Honors – 1, and With Honors – 3.

Other special awards that await this year’s batch of graduates include: VSU Presidential Award of Academic Excellence (1) with Cash Award of P15,000; Gov. Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla Award for Most Outstanding Student (1); Manuel B. Villar, Jr. Award of Excellence (4);  Sen. Sonny J. Angara Award of Excellence (10); Sen. Bam Aquino Bida Ang Mamamayan Award (5); Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero Award of Excellence (15); Sen. Franklin Drilon Award of Excellence (7); Sen. Loren B. Legarda Award of Excellence (1); Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago Leadership Medallion (5); Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano Award of Excellence (10); Sen. JV Ejercito Award of Excellence (5), Sen. Gringo Honasan Award of Excellence (5), Sen. Lito Lapid Award of Excellence (2), Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Leadership Award (7), Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Academic Excellence Award (7), Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III Award of Excellence (5),  Sen. Grace Poe Award of Excellence (6), Sen. Ralph Recto Award of Excellence (3), Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV Award of Excellence (3); An Waray Partylist: Cong. Victoria Noel Award of Excellence (30); and Philippine National IT Standards [PhilNITS] (1).

Moreover, medals will also be given to some graduates, such as: Vice President for Instruction’s Medal of Excellence, Vice President for Research and Extension’s Medal of Excellence, Vice President for Administration and Finance’s Medal of Excellence, Vice President for Planning, Resource Generation and External Affairs’ Medal of Excellence, College of Agriculture and Food Science Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Education Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Engineering Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Forestry and Environmental Science Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Management and Economics Dean’s Medal of Excellence, Dean of Students’ Medal of Excellence, DOST Medal of Excellence in Science and Technology, and PAGKAON Scholars Academic Medals.

Likewise, VSU graduates who were placers in last year’s Board Examinations will be receiving medals.  They are: Board Member Florante A. Cayunda, Jr.  Award of Excellence for Mr. Nic Oswald M. Borines (Agriculture); Mayor Carmen L. Cari Award of Excellence for Engr. Rey Mark L. Alfante, and Engr. Arnolfo R. Antolihao9 Geodetic Engineering); and Congressman Jose Carlos L. Cari Award of Excellence for Engr. Lemar N. Bacardo (Agricultural Engineering).  JFMBaldos