CHED, BukSU formally close completed DARE TO research grants

MALAYBALAY CITY (OP-IPS) Officials from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Central and Region-10 Offices conducted virtual and on-site terminal monitoring activities in Bukidnon State University (BukSU) on April 11 and 26, 2022 respectively, to formally close commissioned research grants. 

The terminal monitoring activities were purported to evaluate the technical, administrative, and financial compliance of BukSU as lead higher education institution (HEI) in two DARE TO grants – the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Research Program in the Province of Bukidnon and FOOD SQUARED: Enhancing Organic Production and Climate Resiliency among Small-Holder Farmers in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, Philippines.

The two projects were approved by CHED in 2016 and were completed in 2020. The monitoring activity successfully culminated the deliverables of the university in this research grant.

The monitoring activities were done pursuant to the CHED Discovery-Applied Research and Extension for Trans/Inter-disciplinary Opportunities (CHED-DARE TO) Research Grant program guidelines and Memorandum of Agreement.

The CHED monitoring team was headed by officials of the CHED Office of Planning, Research and Knowledge Management – Research Management Division namely, Education Program Supervisor Adelma C. Tercia and Senior Research Program Officer Jamie Joyce C. Sese. Other members of the team were officials from the CHED Region 10 Office namely Education Supervisor Dr. Arlita Amapola B. Minguez, CHED X K-12 Personnel Ms. Gina G. Macabaya and Ms. Therese Charmaine C. Ybañez.

The first component of the monitoring activity was a virtual meeting conducted on April 11. The research teams of both projects presented salient findings and other highlights of their respective studies. A question-and-answer segment immediately followed the presentations where an invited expert made clarifications on the results and utilization of the research projects.

The second component of the activity was an on-site validation activity conducted at the 4th Floor Conference Hall of the BukSU Research and Extension Building on April 26. The primary purpose of this component was to conduct a property inventory of equipment purchased thru the DARE TO Grant and to formally turn them over to the university.

The FOOD Squared Research Program sought to assess the different soil formulations for crop growth and development and the sustainability of enhancing organic urban gardening among small farmers in Malaybalay City.  With a grant amount of Php833,822.14 and in partnership with the Central Mindanao University, the Food Squared research cum extension program developed a framework for the community to ensure sustainability of urban square-foot gardening.

The research team was headed by the current chairperson of the Natural Sciences Department, Ms. Desiree Christine Arbutante. The research team members include Ms. Marie Angeli C. Abendaño, Ms. Jennifer P. Barroso, Ms. Jovelin M. Lapates, Mr. Ivan Heinrich Villanueva, Dr. Cleopas Bette Jacutin, Ms. Cheryll Marie Aguilar and Dr. Judith Singcolan.

On the other hand, the research program entitled Disaster Risk Reduction and Management is a two-year research program aimed to develop an integrated framework for the assessment of various adaptive measures of disaster risk reduction and management for the Province of Bukidnon. 

It has conducted various projects in the field of governance, education, health and sciences. It particularly focused on the basic services of LGUs, DRR and Management for school-aged children, health and environmental risk assessment and land use policies.  With a grant amount of Php 8,014,400.00 and in partnership with Mountain View College, the research program published research articles on the component studies as well as developed hazard maps and extension programs aligned with the objectives of the research program.

The research program leader is Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, BukSU Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovations.

Under the program, there were three research projects and nine research studies. The research team is composed of Dr. Beverly B. Bicar, Dr. Zita I. Dales, Dr. Estela C. Itass, Ms. Rosanna S. Generato, Dr. Hazel Jean M. Abejuela, Ms. Joan T. Toledo, Dr. Carina Joane V. Barroso, Ms. Marie Angeli C. Abendaño, Ms. Marites M. Egar, Dr. Mariza P. Manlagaylay, Ms. Desiree A. Barroso, Dr. Marlon S. Frias, Dr. Maribel G. Valdez, Ms. Lora E. Añar, Dr. Lynnette A. Ejem, Ms. Ann Sheila C. Del Rosario, Mr. Omar A. Tantoy, Mr. Rhondell M. Paraiso, Dr. Teresa L. Tacbobo, Ms. Ma. Algerica T. Cuenco, Ms. Joan M. Recente, Ms. Desiree Christine C. Arbutante, Ms. Jennifer P. Barroso and Dr. Apolinario Paulican. The project staff is Ms. Hazel N. Guibone.

The BUKSU DARE TO research programs signify the commitment of the university to conduct high-impact, relevant and ethically sound research endeavors purported to address pertinent social and environmental issues. (Ms. Joanne Vivien B. Necosia/OVPREI)