ASU Reviews its Extension and Community Services Program

The Aklan State University Extension and Community Services (ASU-ECS) Unit conducted its In-House Review on September 3-5, 2008 at ASU, Banga, Aklan.
The In–House Review aimed at strengthening programs, projects, strategies and policies towards local, regional, national and international competitiveness of the extension services of the university. It provided opportunity for the faculty members from the different academic units to present papers on completed, on-going and proposed extension program/projects for academic year 2008-2009. There were 38 faculty member participants and 22 papers presented.
Through presentation of extension programs and projects, critiques from the panel of evaluators, group discussions and brainstorming of participants, the effectiveness of the University’s Extension and Community Services were determined and projects were integrated in the R D & E thrusts on quality education, sustainable agriculture, enterprise development, health and social welfare.
The evaluators were: Dr. Ma. Lulu L. Loyola, Vice President for Research and Extension of West Visayas State University; Ms. Rose T. Mueda of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas; Dr. Allan V. Alimodian, Center Director of the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center VI; Engr. Roger M. Esto, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator of Aklan, and Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente, Chairman of the Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council.
In the on-going project category, Best Paper was awarded to the "Eco-Health Agenda" (Enhancing State of Health and Economic Status of Barangay Venturanza) presented by Prof. Carol Joy P. Remaneses, et.al. of the School of Arts and Sciences. Under the proposed and completed categories, the best papers are on "Organic Fertilizer: Produce and Use in Palayamanan" by Prof. Paterno I. Rebuelta, et.al., and "Capacity Enhancement for Improved Productivity and Community Participation of Women in Kinalangay Nuevo" by Dr. Alma I. Irader, et.al., from the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences.
At the end of the In-House Review, the participants came up with innovative extension program of activities, strategies and policies. These will maximize the extension expertise of faculty and financial resources of the university towards the convergence of the R D & E thrusts as well as the advancement of academic programs of the university.
In the over-all evaluation conducted by the University Monitoring and Planning Unit, the activity was rated "very good," which exceeded the expectations of the participants. The activity was facilitated by the University Extension and Community Services Unit, headed by its Director, Dr. Anna Mae C. Relingo, with full support from the Vice President for Research and Extension, Dr. Roberto L. Saladar and the University Officials headed by President Benny A. Palma. (SR Villasis, ASU-ECS)/MP