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WE CARE Office showcases ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s research excellence and community impact in Annual Review on SDGs Impact

by Anna Marie Bacinillo, WE CARE Office   | Dec 22 2025

²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ faculty, students, and staff gathered with purpose as the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ, through the WE CARE Office, held its Annual Review on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Impact on December 3, 2025, showcasing the university’s dedication to research excellence, strong institutional partnerships, and meaningful community impact. These efforts reflect the various SDG programs, activities, and initiatives undertaken by the University in 2025. 

Prof. Nancy Q. Echavez, Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, formally welcomed the participants, emphasizing the university’s commitment to societal development and research institution. Prof. Rosario L. Reserva, Director of the WE CARE Office, reiterated the purpose of the Annual Review: to evaluate research progress and community impact.

A key highlight in the morning was the keynote address delivered by Prof. Arney Binti Sapa’at, Senior Lecturer and Researcher from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. She shared her insight on SDGs and research innovation to inspire participants to broaden their perspectives in enhancing the impact of their work. 

To ensure a rigorous evaluation process, experts from partner institutions and key sectors served as evaluators for paper presentations. For the Professional Category, the evaluators were Dr. Rovy M. Banguis, Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension of MSU-Buug; Gerrylou Sweet Pia, Science Research Specialist II of DOST–Lanao del Norte; and Prof. Melencio Jalova Jr., Director of the University Extension Service Center at MSU-Main Campus in Marawi. Meanwhile, the Student Category was evaluated by equally esteemed professionals, including Dr. Nimfa L. Bracamonte, former Director of the WE CARE Office at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ; JCInsp. Carmelo A. Corsame, Warden of the Iligan City Male Dormitory under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP); and Engr. Glenn Villacin, OIC Head of the Commercial Services Division at the Iligan City Waterworks System (ICWS). Their collective expertise ensured a thoughtful, fair, and insightful assessment of all research presentations.

The event concluded with the announcement of outstanding research works that demonstrated excellence, innovation, and relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In Cluster A (Professional Category), first place was awarded to “Buzzing Forward: Strengthening Communities through the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Stingless Bee Extension Project” by Eddie P. Mondejar, Sheila Dagondon, Beverly C. Orong, Rolly Caballero, and Olga M. Nuñeza. The second-place winner was “Empowering Rural Women through Social Enterprise: Outcomes of the Social Enterprise Development Project in Barangay Digkilaan” by Shiny Rose S. Narit, Abdullah R. Sirad, Charlyn M. Capulong, Tressa Maye S. Pendang, and Earvin John J. Medina. Third place went to “Legal Knowledge, Digital Practices, and Awareness Among High School Learners: Implications for Education” by Paul B. Bokingkito Jr., Eddie Bouy B. Palad, Jerina Jean M. Ecleo, Nenen S. Borinaga, Haron Hakeen D. Lua, Mia Amor C. Tinam-isan, Jerame B. Beloy, and Rabby Q. Lavilles.

For Cluster B (Student Category), first place was earned by the team of Joel G. Opon, Raquel O. Masalig, Rayn Belle A. Andalan, and collaborators for their project on “Community-Driven Infrastructure Planning for the Tubod, Surigao del Norte Economic Zone.” The second-place recognition was given to the ICAREDev project team—Bazar, Cipriano, Daclan, Descallar, Jampit, Monato, Saeid, Saguin, Zalsos, Albiento, and Bagares—for their proposed construction of the Iligan City Center for Agriculture and Tourism Research and Development. Two studies shared the third-place distinction: “Vulnerability to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: The Case of Talusan, Zamboanga Sibugay” by Angelica M. Darunday, Judy Ann H. Fernandez, Shekinah L. Ogoc, and team; and “Assessing the Prevalence of IUU Fishing in Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay: A Baseline Study Using the I-Fit Tool” by Norlika D. Moti, Judy Ann H. Fernandez, Angelica M. Darunday, Larry C. Herbito Jr.

In the Poster Presentation Category, first place was awarded to “Hidden Threat Revealed: First Report of Anaplasma spp. in Goats from Northern Mindanao, Philippines” by Al Mario L. Sungag, Mylah V. Tabelin, Kimverly Hazel Dapar, and Carlo Stephen O. Moneva, alongside the poster “Does the ASEAN Smart Cities Network Promote Climate Resilience?” by Louie Ayade, Charlyn Capulong, Maria Rizalia Teves, Martha Joy Abing, and Gerrich Babanto. Second place was achieved by Leonardo A. Estaño for the study “Shared Enemy: Parasites of Wild and Farm Animals and Their Impact on Food Safety and Public Health in Mindanao.” Third place featured two entries: “Presumptive Causative Agent of Bacterial Fruit Blotch from ‘Sweet 16’ Watermelon Cultivars” by April Charisse A. Olohoy, Djamae L. Manzanares, Jeremy Roy Augustus I. Gomez, and Christina A. Barazona, and “From Innovation to Extension: Building Healthier Communities – The ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Red Clay Ceramic Water Filter Initiative” by Lilian T. Valencia, Sahara M. Alango, Christian D. Calleno, Eddie B. Sumile, Hayde T. Valero, and Ephraim E. Ibarra.

The 2025 ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Annual Review on SDGs Impact demonstrates the institute’s commitment to research-driven development, transformative partnerships, and sustainable community engagement.

[Photos from the Facebook page of WE CARE Extension Program of ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ]

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