KMO revisits mandate, creates 3-year roadmap

by Stella Concepcion R. Britanico

Now on its seventh year, the Knowledge Management Office (KMO) of CPAf reviewed its accomplishments, revisited its mandate, and planned and prioritized activities and tasks.

Held on March 5, 2020 at the KMO Training Room, the KMO review and planning workshop was designed for review, reflection, planning, and tasking. Atty. Damcelle T. Cortes, assistant professor of CPAf, designed and facilitated the workshop.

Since its operation in July 2012, the KMO has been extending various support services to the College. To give an overview of what the Office has achieved so far, Dr. Evelie P. Serrano, the current KMO head, shared the key accomplishments during the leadership of former KMO heads, Prof. Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero and Dr. Jaine C. Reyes. She also presented the recent outputs since she assumed the KMO head position in August 2018 as well as the ongoing and future activities of the Office.

Established under the Office of the Dean when CPAf was restructured in 2011, the KMO has three components consistent with its mandates/aims: modernized library, knowledge generation and exchange hub, and academic and administrative monitoring and evaluation nexus. Atty. Cortes dubbed these three major functions of the KMO as resource hub, learning center, and MIS office, respectively.

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University Council approves proposed MDMG program revisions

by Ephraim C. Quiñones

The UPLB University Council has approved the proposal for the revision of the Master in Development Management and Governance (MDMG) on February 11, 2020. The proposed revisions consist of the institution of the Public Finance Management and Governance (PFMG) as an additional area of specialization; the institution of DMG 252: Applied Public Finance; and the cross listing of ECON 251: Advanced Public Economics as DMG 251. The proponents for the program revisions are Dr. Rhea L. Gumasing and Dr. Aileen V. Lapitan, with substantial inputs from all DMG program faculty. 

The institution of the PFMG specialization is envisioned to equip graduates with knowledge and skills about the management and governance of revenue generation, allocation, and utilization at the national agency and local government levels. Further, the proposed specialization aims at integrating public integrity and social responsibility values in the graduates’ learning, thereby embodying UP’s signature tradition of honor and excellence in the DMG student’s academic journey.

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CPAf alumni honored for excellent contributions in their fields

by Stella Concepcion R. Britanico and Evelie P. Serrano

Four CPAf alumni received the CPAf College Distinguished Alumni Awards during the UPLB Loyalty Day Celebration and Alumni Awarding Ceremonies held on October 9, 2019 at the UPLB Baker Hall. They were Dr. Katsuhisa Ota (MS Community Development (CD) ’99 and PhD CD ‘07), Atty. Rommel A. Gecolea (Master in Public Affairs ‘13), Dr. Josefina T. Dizon (PhD CD ‘97), and Dr. Weerapon Thongma (PhD Extension Education ‘01) who was also a recipient of The Outstanding UPLB Alumni Award (TOUAA).

Dr. Ota bagged the CPAf College Distinguished Alumnus for Social Entrepreneurship and Development award. Dr. Ota, a Japanese national, has been providing local farmers in Davao, Philippines with skills, employment, and income through a social enterprise he established in 2017, the Pistacia Mindanao Coffee Export, Inc. This micro- and small-enterprise specializes in the production, manufacturing, and export of high-quality coffee and cacao beans. As Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ota is responsible for all activities of the business – from community level to export/marketing in Japan. At the community level, he trains the farmers to increase the quality of the beans and facilitates awareness raising on environmental protection. Before Dr. Ota focused on helping Filipino farmers, he was a consultant of development projects in various countries for 15 years. He also served as community worker in Davao for more than a year under a Japanese non-government organization.

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