CapSU Pontevedra’s ALAY-Kaunlaran named PASUC 6’s best livelihood project

By Niño Manaog

University Extension Associate

Capiz State University

A tree planting participant returns
to Mother Earth her much needed
replenishment, a new planted tree.

In the Second Regional Symposium for Best Extension Practices hosted by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) VI Extension Managers Council, Inc. on August 31, 2011 at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, the “Alamin at Linangin ang Ating Yaman para sa Kaunlaran (ALAY-Kaunlaran): A Program to Improve the People’s Quality of Life ” a multi-project extension program by the Capiz State University (CapSU) Pontevedra Campus clinched the first prize under the livelihood category. The paper also won first place in poster category, out of some 23 poster entries across the region, bringing back-to-back honors for CapSU.

Presented by Engr. Corazon Ditarro, extension coordinator of CapSU Pontevedra, ALAY-Kaunlaran beat seven other livelihood papers across the region. Composed of various livelihood projects and activities launched in 2010, ALAY-Kaunlaran has benefited a wide range of community constituents—from out of school youth, household women and farmer organizations to ordinary barangay folks in Bailan, Pontevedra, Capiz and neighboring communities where CapSU is situated.

According to Engr. Ditarro, Alay-Kaunlaran considered the need to deliver to the community mature technologies; provide technical assistance needed by cooperating agencies; and enhance skills and livelihood opportunities for the clienteles. “While it aimed to develop among specific clienteles the spirit of cooperation and productivity, the project likewise enriched community extension services of the project leaders,” the summary paper said.

CapSU leads the product demonstration
on the operations of rice hull gasifier
stove to enthusiasts and potential customers.

ALAY-Kaunlaran featured five sub-projects, each of which came with a series of activities designed to enhance the livelihood of the beneficiaries. The Ecological Awareness Project included Adopt-a-Purok Project, Tree Planting Activities, Clean and Green Campaign and Solid Waste Management. Under Technology Introduction and Utilization Project, CapSU Pontevedra led a product demonstration of improvised rice hull gasifier stove as response to high fuel costs.

A seminar on Electrical and Fire Safety and another on the Economy of the Electrical Consumption were also conducted under the Risk Management and Disaster Prevention Project. For Livelihood Augmentation Project, CapSU Pontevedra initiated skills trainings on basic photography, signboard painting, ands silkscreen and T-shirt printing for out-of-school youth and barangay folks, among others.

Participants and facilitators of the seminars
on fire and electrical safety and prevention
and the economy on electrical consumption

For the Human Resource and Technical Assistance Project, a training course on the operation and maintenance of flatbed dryer was conducted for farmer organizations beneficiaries to enable them to maximize the use of said equipment.

Photography training participants
present their sample outputs.

Another winning extension project from CapSU was the “Kalinga Project” presented by Prof. Jay Ann Gregorio of CapSU Pontevedra’s College of Nursing also joined the regional competition. Kalinga Project sought to provide health services assistance, environmental awareness to adopted communities in CapSU Pontevedra. In particular, the completed extension project trained family beneficiaries acquire healthy lifestyles through health education including training them on proper waste disposal and sanitation practices. Most important, it also provided the family beneficiaries free medical and nursing care.

The CapSU delegation included Dr. Raul Ticar, CapSU extension director; Dr. Elisa Delmindo, CapSU Pontevedra extension chairperson; Prof. Remar Apolinario, extension chairperson and Prof. Carmelo Villanueva, Mobile Technology Schools (MTS) coordinator of CapSU Roxas; Prov. Vivian Alejaga, CapSU Dayao extension chairperson; and selected faculty members from other CapSU campuses.

Convening some 120 participants including vice-presidents for research and extension, extension directors, extension chairpersons and coordinators, faculty, extension workers and staff from 11 state universities and colleges in Western Visayas, the symposium served as venue for interactive sharing of experiences and best practices in extension work.

Students and farmers are taught on how to use the moisture meter
to get the moisture content of their palay grains (top photos);
and farmers are taught the proper operations procedures
for a diesel engine needed to run a flatbed dryer (lower photos).