Herman Lagon
ISUFST Main Campus-Tiwi Site—The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) held its 5th In-House Presentation of Extension Project Proposals (IPEP) at the University Library last Friday, September 27, 2024, featuring 40 extension project proposals aimed at uplifting local communities. The event spearheaded by the Extension Services and Community Development (ESCD) office, reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to social responsibility, education, research, and development.
Dr. Joana Paula B. Biñas, Director of ESCD, emphasized the critical role of extension work in the university’s mission, noting, “As extensionists, we are made for service to care for all men, driven by a commitment to uplift communities, transform lives, and create lasting impact through compassion and knowledge.”
The event covered various themes that address significant community needs, including environmental sustainability, mental health, livelihood generation, education, and technological advancement. Among the featured proposals were projects focusing on sustainable tourism, mental health for persons deprived of liberty (PDL), computer literacy for teacher applicants, environmental sustainability, educational advancement, empowerment through skills training, community health and safety, agricultural development, and livelihood support for farmers, fisherfolks, and local communities.
The 40 project proposals presented, a first of its kind in terms of depth and breadth, are geared towards empowering the following vulnerable groups: fisherfolks, farmers, rural women, PDLs, persons with disabilities (PWDs), indigenous communities, senior citizens, teachers, students, children, out-of-school youth, and low-income families.
University President Dr. Nordy D. Siason, Jr., in a statement of support, lauded the event as fully aligned with ISUFST’s Vision, Mission, and Guiding Principles (VMG), emphasizing that the projects not only enhance the academic experience but also strengthen the university’s role in community building. “These extension projects showcase our unwavering commitment to transforming lives and creating sustainable change, deeply rooted in the university’s mandate to serve,” he said.
The projects span across the different ISUFST campuses, with each campus presenting unique solutions tailored to the needs of their local communities. With the university’s strong backing and the dedication of its faculty members, ISUFST continues to bridge the gap between education and community service. Through these extension projects, the university aims to create a lasting impact on marginalized sectors in Iloilo and beyond.
The IPEP not only highlighted the faculty’s proactive engagement in community development but also reaffirmed ISUFST’s dedication to integrating service, learning, and research, as underscored by Dr. Biñas, who concluded, “Through these projects, we are empowering our students and faculty to become agents of change, aligning academic excellence with the university’s commitment to the greater good.”
With a number of new extension projects in the pipeline, plus the many others now being conducted by the different extension advocates in the university, ISUFST’s extension work is expected to reach thousands of beneficiaries across various sectors, continuing the university’s legacy of transformative education and community support.
