Biliran Province State University is set to collaborate with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Naval on research-based community extension services, following a strategic meeting held at Dasig Hall, LGU Naval, between Hon. Mayor Gretchen Stephanie Espina and BiPSU President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr.

Mayor Espina disclosed that Naval currently has 18 ongoing projects under her Executive Agenda, DASIG, which stands for Dynamic Leadership, Aspiring Excellence, Sustainable Life, Inclusive Services, and Good Governance. 

Among these projects, she highlighted the urgent challenges facing the municipality, particularly issues related to the water supply, which require comprehensive feasibility studies and research-driven solutions.

“There is a pressing need to partner with BiPSU to ensure that all our implementations and projects are based on solid research,” Mayor Espina emphasized.

She also noted that Naval is poised to transition from a 3rd class to a 1st class municipality by 2025, a change that will necessitate doubling efforts to address emerging problems and challenges within the community.

In response, Dr. Cañezo expressed BiPSU's strong commitment to supporting LGU Naval's initiatives. "BiPSU is more than willing to help," he assured. 

Dr. Cañezo suggested organizing a workshop that would bring together LGU officials and the BiPSU team of research enthusiasts from various schools within the university. This workshop will focus on conducting needs-based assessments and collaborative studies to identify priority areas for research, ensuring that all efforts are aligned with the community's specific needs.

The collaboration will be further strengthened through the involvement of sectoral representatives, including farmers, marginalized sectors among others, as participants in the workshop to ensure that the research and projects developed are community-based and responsive to the local context.

The mayor also mentioned Naval's ongoing partnership with the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) and  elaborated on the importance of investing in technology to support the municipality's development goals. She also highlighted the need for more programs that align with this vision, stressing the value of research in driving innovation and sustainable growth.

In a related development, BiPSU will host the proposed workshop next week, spearheaded by Dr. Roland A. Niez, vice president for Research, Innovation and Extension Service, who was also present during the said meeting. Also in attendance are Engr. Jessie Mari Cerera, director of Institutional Planning Office and Apple Joy Balondo- Visitacion, director for University Media and Information Office. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Canezo extended an invitation to Mayor Espina to attend the upcoming BiPSU Founding Anniversary celebrations, which will focus on instruction, research, innovation and extension. A key highlight of the event will be the presentation of the 31 Intellectual Properties (IPs) for commercialization on August 29, some of which could potentially benefit the LGU and its ongoing projects.

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