Extension Associate
Capiz State University
To teach the extension workers of its member agencies on designing, packaging and sustaining their projects, the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Region 6 hosted the Seminar Workshop on Implementing Extension Projects in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) on June 25–27, 2012 at the San Antonio Resort in Brgy. Baybay in Roxas City.
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| The participants, key officials and facilitators of the training workshop |
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| Dr. Editha Magallanes |
Welcoming some 50 participants from 11 member SUCs in the opening program, Dr. Editha Magallanes, president of Capiz State University (CapSU), encouraged extension workers to take stock of the capability-building opportunity. According to Magallanes, extension is a mandate of the SUCs but it is not their sole responsibility.
While sourcing out funds for projects may prove difficult, linkage with appropriate government agencies “we have to establish linkages with government agencies like Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Training Institute and even the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). This will help facilitate the implementation of initiatives for livelihood and similar other activities for the target communities.
To identify the relevance of the SUCs’ projects, Magallanes pointed out the importance of technology and training needs assessment in the target communities which will appropriately meet their needs and concerns. And stressing the importance of packaging information, education and communication (IEC) materials the projects, Magallanes encouraged the representatives of SUCs to properly document and package technologies before dissemination and to monitor their respective projects documentation.
Playing host to the event, Capiz State University took active part in the capability building initiative. Led by Director Raul Ticar, CapSU’s Extension Services was represented by its extension chairpersons from across eight CapSU campuses, namely: Dr. Sylvia Ozaraga of Dumarao; For. Wilfredo Abogadie of Burias; Prof. Edna Glory of Tapaz; Prof. Gemma Angelias of Roxas City; Prof. Ginalyn Obien of Sigma; Prof. Joselito Sitjar of Dayao; Prof. Maddy Gallardo of Sapian; Prof. Virginia Cabales of Poblacion Mambusao.
A POOL OF EXPERTS
The workshop featured the expertise of resource speakers from a national government agency and PASUC 6’s member SUCs. Dr. Evelyn Aro-Esquejo, deputy director for policy and administration at the Agricultural Training Institute lectured on the project development cycle and the preparation of log-frame, which is used in designing effective proposals. Esquejo also taught the participants on sustaining the projects by way of designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation.
Prof. Edwin Villaruz, vice-chairman of PASUC 6’s EMC and director for alumni and external relations at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) shared concepts and insights on resource mobilization & networking; while Eduardo Ortega, faculty of the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) shed light on community organizing, which is deemed essential to determining the success of the projects directed in the communities.
In the last day’s session, Prof. Edel Carmela Subong, faculty at the communications department of WVSU, provided tips on the art of project documentation and related skills.
THEY HEARD, THEY LEARNED
The seminar-workshop drew a number of feedbacks from the participants. Carol Joy Palma Remaneses, extension coordinator at the Aklan State University said that the workshop only “affirmed what we are doing in our university.” While their projects are prolific with documentation, Palma confides that “we also need to train ourselves on how to package the documentation” of these projects. Currently the chair of ASU’s nursing program, Palma considered that monitoring and evaluation is also equally important.
Dr. Melinda Iran, who has been extension director of the University of Antique since 2006 valued the content and extent of the topics covered by the workshop, saying that they are applicable to extension work and are aptly needed by the participants. However, Iran wished that “we need more time to learn the topics discussed to cover more and finish our actual output.” For his part, Prof. Arsenio Montaño, Jr. extension chair at the WVCST in Iloilo City, commended the knowledgeable resource speakers who generously shared their expertise to them.
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Dr. Benny Palma, chairperson of PASUC 6 and outgoing president of CHMSC, zeroed in on the importance of properly starting and continuously sustaining extension projects. Saying that SUCs must be identified as centers or niches of particular commodities, technologies or services, Palma encouraged the participants to package their projects according to the niches identified for their particular institutions.
After showing examples of potential products and technologies that can be produced and provide livelihood to the target communities, Palma urged extension workers to develop it, bank on it and “you will be rewarded.”
Begun in 2009, PASUC 6 EMC designs capability-building initiatives to enhance the skills of the extension workers of its member SUCs including Northern Negros College of Science and Technology (NONESCOST); Aklan State University; Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College; Western Visayas College of Science and Technology; West Visayas State University; Guimaras State College; University of Antique; Iloilo State College of Fisheries; Negros State College of Agriculture; and Carlos Hilado Memorial State College.
