ISAT U President Dr. Raul F. Muyong and DTI Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon sign the Memorandum of Agreement and Usufruct Agreement for the turn-over of shared services facilities.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) turned over  facilities worth seven million to the University through a Memorandum of Agreement and Usufruct Agreement signed at the Research Hub on December 21, 2018. The facilities consist of machinery and equipment such as laser cutter, plasma cutter, wood router, embroidery machine, thermal former, large scale tarpaulin printer, and laptop. It is part of DTI’s Shared Services Facilities (SSFs) “Shared Services for Filipino Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs)” program, which are expected to spur the growth of micro, small, and medium scale enterprises through the university’s research and innovation.

DTI VI Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon said that the university was chosen as beneficiary due to its accessibility and the full support of the administration, its relevance to the vision and mission of ISAT U in going for industry support through researches and in promoting the MSMEs. She also believes that not only the students will benefit from the facility but also the micro, small and medium enterprises, who will further avail of the services of ISAT-U.

Dr. Raul F. Muyong, ISAT U President, expressed his gratitude for being chosen as the project’s beneficiary. “This will help in our instruction and research especially on innovation and technology.  We are thankful that we were chosen by the DTI.” He added that “the facilities can assist our small and medium enterprises and assist in our innovation initiatives.”

The university president underscored the big advantage of the project to ISAT U. “It is very relevant since we offer engineering design. This will also help in promoting our research initiatives,” he said. Innovation and technology is part of the university’s vision and mission in helping the community. He believed that through the innovation initiatives it will help the MSMEs. “ I am sure this will help in improving lives of the people not only in the region but in the whole country,” he added.

The DTI provided the machinery and equipment for the Fabrication Laboratory at the Research Hub.

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Dr. Gabriel M. Salistre, Jr. asks for some clarifications on the responsibilities of ISAT U as a receiving agency.

Ms. Kate B. Refendor, Creative Communications Officer, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), congratulated the university as the first agency in Iloilo to get on-board of the FOI portal during the Freedom of Information (FOI) enhancement training for administrative council members at the HRT Service Center on October 31, 2018.

She also acknowledged the university’s promptness in complying with the FOI Manual, providing the list of all information the agency records, stores and control, and for posting of FOI logo at the agency official website.

The speakers. Ms Kate B. Refendor and Mr. Kristian Veil Nierves.

Miss Refendor talked on the salient features of the FOI Program. She gave attention on the concept of access to information, requirements for FOI request, obligations of ISAT U and the parameters of disclosure of requested documents and the FOI workflow. It was also made clear that FOI is different from other services such as the 888 hot line of the Civil Service Commission, Anti Red Tape Act (ARTA), and the law governing ease of doing business.

On the other hand, the eFOI Portal (electronic FOI portal) and its functionalities and technicalities was elaborated by Mr. Kristian Veil Nierves, Planning Officer II, PCOO. Mr Nierves also underscored the flagging system as the internal warning system for the FOI officer in complying with the time requirement for the requests as provided by the FOI law.

 ISAT U employees from different campuses listen to the discussion of the resource speakers.

The University conducted an employees’ welfare and benefits forum focusing on membership benefits from the Social Security System (SSS), Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-ibig) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)  on October 30, 2018.

Mr. Conrad S. Chiongson, Marketing and Sales Department Head of the Home Development Mutual Fund discussed the latest programs and benefits for Pag-ibig members. He gave emphasis on provident savings and shelter financing as the agency’s primary services.

The resource persons : Mr. Conrad S. Chiongson of HDMF, Geena Caro of PhilHealth and Mr. Arnel Genova of SSS.

Meanwhile, Ms. Geena Caro from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) offered the agency’s Expanded Primary Care Benefits (ePCB).

Mr. Arnel Genova, OIC team head of the Social Security System (SSS), on the other hand, encouraged non-members and even the government employees to enroll as voluntary member and avail the services of the SSS. He also mentioned that the Memorandum of Agreement for membership of JO and CS employees is properly implemented.

Different issues are raised in the open forum.

The meeting was also an opportune time for the school administration to update the employees of what is in store for them.

During the president’s time, Dr. Raul F. Muyong announced that the NBC 461 Cycle 7A will pushed through as per decision of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) to prioritize the human resource of the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).  The  Php 1.2 billion capital outlay (Php10 million/SUC) will be utilized for the promotion and salary adjustments of the faculty. “We give importance to the human resource. The infrastructure projects can wait, “said Dr. Muyong.

The university president also disclosed that PASUC has forwarded a position paper to the Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit and the Department of Budget and Management to reconsider the CSC- COA-DBM joint circular No. 1, s. 2017 governing the outsourcing of job orders and contract of service employees among the SUCs.

He also congratulated the employees for the university’s achievement of being an ISO 9001:2015 certified and enjoined them to work harder for the coming accreditation visit.

On plans and projects, Dr. Muyong announced that the university will enter into agreement with two agencies for textile development- the Project HABI with HABI Foundation and the 40 million hablon development project with the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI). ISAT U Dumangas Campus also submitted a business plan including an eco- tourism development at the 80 ha. lot at Brgy. Aglalana, Passi City.

Aside from benefits, the proper completion of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) form was also discussed by Ms. Maila S. Alparaque, HRMO II.

Finding the importance of updating the employees of their welfare and benefits, Dr. Gabriel M. Salistre, Jr. announced that this will be made an annual undertaking. The same activity was held last year with representative from the Government Service Insurance System.

Dr. Raul F. Muyong lead the university in supporting the Pure Love Campaign.

One in advocating love and purity, youth from around the world gathered at ISAT U for the Pure Love Campaign of the 6th International Youth Assembly on September 22, 2018.

With the theme, Peace Loving Global Youth: Bridging Gaps Towards Sustainable Peace, the Universal Peace Federation and Youth, and Students for Peace (YSP) organized the event aimed at uplifting the moral principles of the youth.

Delegates from Albania, Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Cambodia, Nepal, Fiji, Korea, and Japan joined the Filipino youths in shouting “Proud to be a Virgin” and in condemning immorality in the society.

The World Collegiate Association for Research of Principles-ISAT U (WCARP-ISAT U) and the university administration is in full support of Pure Love Campaign. ISAT U President Dr. Raul F. Muyong welcomed the participants and reminded them the sanctity of marriage.

The participants affix their signature to to condemn immorality, to end teenage pregnancy and promote Pure Love. (Photo courtesy of The Technovator)

The WCARP-ISAT U is the first of the three university affiliates in Western Visayas.

Imee Tanan, WCARP-ISAT U President, said that “the activity is an awareness to make one an active individual; instead of becoming a problem, the youth will be made a solution to the problems of the society. “ She added that Pure Love is not only about sex. “Pure Love is an education. It is an awareness not only on pre-marital sex but on all problems on morality confronted by the youth today, “ Tanan explained.

The Pure Love Address of Dr. Robert Kittel, YSP International President and Pangasinan Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil underscored the importance of love and marriage.

Prof. Ritchell Jalipa, President of YSP Asia-Pacific led the campaign for 20 million signatures to promote Pure Love Education among the youth to end teenage pregnancy and HIV in the Philippines. The signature campaign is also was one of the purpose of the activity .