Dean Bello discusses academic partnership with Yeungnam University

by Stoix Nebin S. Pascua

CPAf Dean Rolando T. Bello and Dr. Emely Dicolen met with Prof. Kisu Kim on April 9, 2019 to discuss the details of partnership, specifically on the Saemaul Undong short-term training for CPAf students, faculty, and partner-agencies. Prof. Kim is the Dean of the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (PSPS) of Yeungnam University in South Korea. Also discussed is the opportunity of sending students as scholars to take the MS degree in International Development with focus on Saemaul Undong.

Saemaul Undong, according to the Korea Saemaul Undong Center, refers to any community development movement, which builds a village or community to improve villagers’ quality of life based on the spirits of diligence, self-help and cooperation, and approaches by the villagers, of the villagers and for the villagers. Saemaul Undong is also based on self-reliant decision-making through the process of planning, implementation, evaluation, and feedback to the next phase.

In April 2018, UPLB Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. and Yeungnam University President Sur Gil-soo signed a memorandum of understanding between CPAf and PSPS for collaborative activities in academic areas of interest.

Gender gap study on Laguna Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations reveals interesting findings

by Samantha Geraldine G. De los Santos

Participation of women in gender and development is evident in Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in Laguna. 

This was the result of the study presented by Community Innovations Studies Center (CISC) Director Blanquita R. Pantoja during the UPLB Gender Center 2018 Grant Presentation held on March 28, 2019 at the Obdulia F. Sison Hall. She led the "Analysis of Gender Gap in Selected Agrarian Reform Cooperatives in Laguna, Philippines: An Exploratory Study," which was funded by the UPLB Gender Center.

In her presentation, Dir. Pantoja discussed the various roles of a total of 90 women-members from the Perez Agrarian Reform Cooperative  in Calauan, Paagahan Agrarian Reform Community Multipurpose Cooperative in Mabitac, and Adia Multipurpose Cooperative in Santa Maria who participated in the study. Women in these cooperatives were active participants in economic gains of the family as 83% of them contributed to household income.

Read more...

Former JICA Rep shares about infrastructure development in the Philippines

by Therese R. Olviga

Professor Susumu Ito discussed the opportunities and challenges of infrastructure development in the Philippines in a seminar held on March 29, 2019 at the UPLB Graduate School Multipurpose Hall. Professor Ito of the Chuo University in Tokyo is a former chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the Philippines. Titled "PPP vs ODA: Opportunities and Challenges of Infrastructure Development in the Philippines," the seminar was sponsored by UPLB Graduate School and the College of Public Affairs and Development.

Professor Ito raised the issue that while the Philippines has been deemed to be among the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, public investment in infrastructure development seemed to be low. "Infrastructure is important in economic development. It paves way for faster economic growth," according to Prof. Ito. Adequate infrastructure in the form of roads and other transportation systems, airports, and communication helps in bringing about a more efficient transfer of goods, services, technology, and/or information.

Read more...