Romblon State University launched the University Community Empowerment through Sustainable Services (UNI-CESS) program at Brgy. Pinamihagan, San Jose, Romblon last month.
A total of 120 families from Pinamihagan served as beneficiaries of the project, which received aid and participated in focus group discussions bringing out concerns and needs of their community.
The team also distributed a total of 250 fruit tree seedlings from the Department of Agriculture under the PANTREE project of the University. This is hoped to raise awareness of the importance of planting and saving trees for the environment.
The inking of MOA was also conducted between parties which was represented by RSU President, Dr. Merian P. Catajay-Mani, Hon. Teodoro Sacharias, Punong Barangay of Pinamihagan; Hon. Pacifico Amabagan, Jr, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative of San Jose; Ms. Myrna M. Venus of San Jose Agricultural High School, Mr. Salvador Casimero, OIC of Pinamihagan National High School, PLT Bangona and PLT Encarnacion.
Also present during the event were the University’s top management, the VPAA, Dr. Emelyn R. Villanueva, VPAF Dr. Tomas T. Faminial and VPREDI Dr. Emelyn F. Montoya, together with the Director for Gender & Development, Ms. Carolyn D. Fetalver, Director for Research and Development Dr. Eddie G. Fetalvero and the Advocacy Officer for the Office of the University President, Ms. Gianinna Elaine M. Labicane.
The team was joined by the Romblon Mobile Force Company, led by First Platoon Leader PLT Alvin Rex Bangona, and the San Jose Municipal Police Station, led by PLT Mark Anthony Encarnacion. This partnership effort spearheaded by Dr. Merian P. Catajay-Mani, an active GAD and environmental advocate and a community builder, ensures to uplift and empower vulnerable and marginalized communities in Pinamigahan and other target areas Romblon.
It mainly aims to address the needs of the beneficiaries in terms of health & nutrition, livelihood, and environmental education and conservation. Pinamihagan is the fourth community where the program has been launched, following Puro Island in Santa Fe, Sitio Cabibihan in Calatrava and Sitio Dayongdong in San Agustin. RSU is set to launch UNI-CESS in two more communities of Panagintingan in Sibuyan and Cobrador in Romblon.
