The Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) tapped ISAT U as the regional yarn production and innovation center under the Department of Science and Technology DOSTi2TELA: Inclusive Innovation TELA (Textiles Empowering Lives Anew) program. PTRI is the premier textile research and development arm of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) .

The concept of the program was presented to DOST Sec. Fortunato T. De La Pena  during his visit on July 28, 2018.

According to Ms. Celia B. Elumba, PTRI Director, the three year program is aimed at reviving the textile industry in Iloilo by providing technical support to the local weavers. The major aspects of the project is the use of native materials (banana and pineapple fiber) for fabric-making, dyes from indigenous plants and materials, and the traditional way of weaving. It is an agro-industry integration with ecological, cultural and tourism components.

Iloilo City, Leon, Dumangas and Miagao Campuses were tapped to collaborate for the program implementation. Leon and Dumangas Campuses will provide experts in cultivating raw materials for textile and dyes. The Iloilo City Campus, on the other hand, will provide expertise in science, engineering and technology. The Research Hub will house the equipment and facilities granted by PTRI for dye research and processing.

The prototype loom machines will be housed at the proposed textile village in Miag-ao Campus. It will bolster the town’s tourism because loom machines that dates back in Pre-Spanish era, the hablon it produces, along with the famed Miagao Church are the town’s tourist attractions.

Dr. Carmelo V. Ambut, ISAT U Vice President for Research and Extension, described how the proposed textile village promote tourism and industry,  “a showcase of the artisan handloom weaving evolving into production slowly unfolds as one traverses the campus’ forested area. This will be labeled as “forest walk” and will be one of the tourist attractions in Iloilo.”

He added that it could also be a potential income-generating spot. “A certain part can be allotted for a “trading post” where one can buy hablons, local fibers blends and other souvenir items. The said “forest walk” ends with a visit on the production facility of local fiber blend factor which will be run by a private partner and is the recipient of the research and development outputs of the research program,” Dr. Ambut explained.

The PTRI granted 43 million pesos for the project while ISAT U will provide the facilities and the expertise for identification/survey of fibrous plants and to conduct ethno-botanical study on the local fibers in Region VI, yarn development and dyeing, propagation and identification of local source of fibers and dyes, prototyping of machineries for textile, and socio-economics and eco-tourism studies.

“The book fair was held to update the collections of the university library and to give the faculty  a chance to have actual selection of materials needed for their respective disciplines,” explained Mrs. Ninfa G. Geloryao, ISAT U university librarian, during the Book Fair participated by eight bookstores  on July 12-13, 2018.

A total of 861  titles in general education, engineering, technology and education were selected by the college deans and instructors.  362 books were selected for College of Arts and Science,  135 for College of Engineering and Architecture, 188 for College of Industrial Technology and 176  for  College of Education.

Mrs. Geloryao said that, “all books selected were copyrighted for the last five years but we prefer to buy the 2016, 2017, 2018 and the latest editions, all paper and hard bound. The materials selected were for undergraduate programs and the graduate school as well.”

Considering the need for updated materials, the different college deans pledged to help cope with the financial requirements. Mrs. Geloryao said that the pledges will augment the Php 1.4 million budget allocation by the university library for books purchases for 2019.

Aside from librarians and faculty members from ISAT U external campuses, the Book Fair was also attended by delegates from University of Iloilo-PHINMA, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation Maritime University, St. Therese MTC Colleges- Main and La Fiesta Site, University of Antique, ISCOF-Barotac Nuevo Campus and Cabalum Western College.

The participating bookstores were the C&E Publishing, Inc. , Page One Trading, D’ Tops Bookstore, New Century Books and Gen. Merchandise, Global International Education Link Enterprises Co., Super Pages Trading, CD Books International, Inc. and Mind Mover Publishing House, Inc.

Different student organizations  joined the nation in the campaign to eliminate plastic pollution through a series of activities attuned to the National Environment Month 2018 celebration theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution: If you can’t reuse it, refuse it.”

A campus clean-up drive was organized by the Environmental Club in cooperation with Architecture Department and Science Department on June 27-28. The two-day activity also featured an on-the-spot painting and a song writing competition which highlighted the impact of plastic pollution.

Adding color to the celebration, the Science Department opened a Mini-Eco Exhibit showcasing students’ outputs on the reuse and recycling of plastic wastes and organized a mini concert dubbed Tinig at Himig ng Kabataan Para sa Kalikasan.

One of the highlights was the lecture forum by Dr. Daniel Agan, President, Youth Proyekto Phils., Inc. His talked was pinned on environmental advocacy and environmental degradation and its impact to the lives of men, women and children and the impact of plastic pollution.

Capping the event was the Search for Miss Q & A Kalikasan 2018. The pageant tested the wit of the participants to answer questions on environmental concerns as well as their ingenuity in creating costumes out of recycled materials, mostly plastic.

Earlier, faculty members and students under the NSTP, members of the SAVERS and ROTC officers organized another off-campus clean-up activity at the Iloilo River Esplanade on June 23, 2018.

Aimed at informing the parents and students of the mechanics of the free college education, an orientation on Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act was held on June 7, 2017 at the University Multi-purpose Educational Center.

Dr. Karen Catalina G. Zaldivar, Educational Supervisor II and In-Charge of Scholarship, CHEd Regional Office VI, presented the salient points of the law. Dr. Zaldivar focused on the legal basis of implementation, the qualified beneficiaries, programs and institutions, the admission and retention policies as provided, the authorized fees and the tertiary education subsidy (TES) and other scholarships.

The Return Service System (RSS) Contractual Obligation of Students as one of the components of RA 10931 was also discussed.  Rule II, Section 4 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) mandated SUCs and LUCs to formulate and implement RSS for students-beneficiaries as part of admission and retention policies.

Dr. Raul F. Muyong, ISAT U President,  presented  ISAT U’s proposed guidelines and the drafted RSS Program Options.  Subject for the approval of the Board of Regents, the proposed guidelines state that each student will render fifty (50) hours of return service per semester or one hundred (100) hours per academic year. Included in the RSS program options are the following: campus clean and green, community outreach and extension, risk reduction and disaster mitigation and readiness, campus leadership, sports and cultural, tutorial and learning assistance, student assistantship or combination of any of  the approved option.

The query and suggestion of a parent on the inclusion of the services as Sangguniang Kabataan official as part of the program was noted. Dr. Muyong assured that the committee in-charged will give necessary attention to the matter.

The school’s opt-out mechanism was made clear to the parents and students. Under Section 8, Rule II of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 10931, ISAT U as an implementing agency has an obligation to formulate its mechanism to cater to students with financial capacity to pay for their education and who voluntarily decide to “opt-out” of the tuition and other school fees subsidy.

Dr. Muyong took the opportunity to remind students to be serious in their studies. “Be serious in your studies. You are very lucky to be admitted at ISAT U. There are more than 7, 000 applicants and only 2,500 were admitted and that includes you,” he said.

In the open forum, the parents and students were given chances to ask questions, clarify issues, erase doubts and give comments and suggestions on the implementation of Republic Act 10931.

 

The Gender and Development (GAD) with the Office of the Student Affairs and Services (OSAS) invited boarding house owners to a consultation and gender orientation on May 22, 2018 to establish a smooth and healthy partnership for students’ welfare.

With the help of the boarding house owners, the school identified problems and drafted plans of intervention to student’s activities detrimental to their studies. The issues raised were delay in payments, respect to house rules, cleanliness, manners and conduct, smoking and drinking, few cases of hazing and incidents of premarital sex. It was noted that the school could help in prevention or mitigation of such cases.

Dr. Maria Asusina Asuncion E. Echaverria, OSAS Director, said “problems and obligations should be identified and addressed for the welfare of the students.” She added that “this is the first consultation held to acknowledge the boardinghouse owners as stakeholders of student’s development.”

Mutual benefit for the students’ interests and boarding house business was also discussed. Prof. Pedro Fontanalgo, Legal Office Chief, laid out the plan to draft the guidelines for the issuance of a certificate of accreditation as legitimate partner of ISAT U. Once materialize, the OSAS will make recommendation of licensed and desirable boarding houses to students who are going to stay in the city during school days. In return the boarding house owners will notify the school on occurrence of identified problems. In such case, the GAD, the guidance counselors and the OSAS will make necessary intervention for the benefit of the students and the boarding houses.

It was further discussed that school’s responsibility is not only confined inside the campus but also outside of the school. It was bared that the GAD will be conducting visits to check the condition of the boarding houses.

Values formation in boarding houses was also given attention. Prof. Emily de la Cruz, GAD Focal Person, oriented the participants on the importance of gender and development in values formation, specifically in handling gender differences and the facilities that address their needs.