MUSTVolume 2 No.3 | August 2013

Six delegates from Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) attended the National Conference and Training on Energizing Engineering Curriculum towards International Recognition last July 31 to August 2, 2013 at Crown Regency Hotel and Towers, Cebu City.

The event, hosted and facilitated by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC),aimed to gather State Universities and Colleges offering Engineering Courses and discuss several new challenges facing engineering programs; provide updates on several guidelines and policies of CHED; and discuss a variety of initiatives that can be adopted by SUCs offering engineering programs.

The conference and training featured resource speakers from the international and national academic arena. One of them was Dr. Ruth G. Cabahug, Vice President for Academic Affairs of MUST, who shared her thoughts on the topic “Existing Challenges Facing Engineering Institutions in the Country”. The other speakers were Dr. Sinforoso M. Birung of the Commission on Higher Education, Dr. Rhodora M. Gonzales of University of the Philippines, Engr. Loinaz D. Dulawan of Ifugao State University, Mr. Cheah Sin Moh of Singapore Polytechnic and Dr. Ronald J. Hugo of Schulich School of Engineering, University

MUST supports Busog, Lusog, Talino (blt) school feeding programBy Jo Mark M. Libre

Given the importance of education in shaping the country’s future, the Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) through the Jollibee Foundation embarks on the “Busog, Lusog, Talino” (BLT) school feeding program.

The University through the Office of the Vice-President for Student Affairs headed by its VP, Dr. Juana M. De La Rama, and Head of the Student Affairs and Welfare Unit, Mr. Jo Mark M. Libre, attended the Commitment Signing and Orientation Program of the BLT school feeding program last August 12, 2013 together with the Local Government Unit of Cagayan de Oro City, the Department of Education, the academe represented by Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST), Lourdes College and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan; and private organizations.

(Upper Left to Right): Dr. Ruth G. Cabahug presents her paper entitled “Existing Challenges Facing Engineering Institutions in the Country” during the PASUC National Conference on Energizing Engineering Curriculum towards International Recognition; Dr. Herbert Glenn P. Reyes, Executive Director of PASUC, facilitates the open forum. (Lower Left to Right): Dr. Ruth G. Cabahug accepts her plaque of recognition; The MUST DELEGATES with one of the speakers, Dr. Ron J. Hugo, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, who is also a CDIO expert.

The orientation was also designed to discuss the technical aspects of implementing BLT at the school level and the partners’ involvement in program implementation. During the last part of the program, time was given to the partners and assigned schools to meet and discuss preparations for the start of program which is scheduled on September 2, 2013.

The BLT program is an opportunity for the schools, parents, local government units (LGUs), donors, civil society, and JFC employee volunteers to come together to address hunger among students, to help them to stay in school and have a healthy physique for better learning.

Since its inception in 2007, the BLT School Feeding Program has endeavored to work with communities towards addressing hunger among Grades 1 and 2 public school pupils to help them stay in school and learn better. BLT provides daily lunch to the pupils with “Wasted” and “Severely Wasted” Body Mass Index (BMI) for 136 days during the school

of Calgary, Canada, who also conducted the training/workshop on CDIO standards.University president Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, who is also the President of PASUC, gave the keynote address to more than 200 participants comprising Presidents, Vice Presidents, Deans and Chairpersons of Engineering Programs from various state universities and colleges

in the country. Other delegates from MUST are the dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture, Dr. Ambrosio B. Cultura II, and the engineering department chairpersons: Engr. Belma Villanueva (CE), Engr. Adonis Closas (ME), Engr. Lloyd Jhon Estampa (ECE), and Engr. Rojien Morcilla (EE).

MUST attends PASUC National Conference and Training By Ruth April A. Labajan

year (July-March). The budget is PhP11 per child per meal. For about PhP1500, a child can be fed for the entire feeding period. The meals are prepared by the parents

more on page 2

Executive Editor Maria Consuelo R. Del Castillo

Editors:Anne Lorraine R. Sitoy, Joan J. Sabalo

Graphic Artist:Reynann G. Ybañez

Contributors: Jo Mark M. Libre, Ruth April A. Labajan, Marjorie Moreno-Alforque, Kristine Pearl A. Hortilano

Editorial Board

The MUST Newsletter is produced monthly by the Planning, Monitoring and Communication Unit (PMCU) and the information sharing team to liven up information sharing among us. Any part of this newsletter may be reproduced for information sharing purposes. If you have news to tell, announcements to make, congratulations to send, inspiring stories to share, please don’t hesitate to submit or email it so that we can publish them in the newsletter and the website. More articles are posted at www.must.edu.ph The newsletter is also available in PDF format. If you wish to receive a copy through email, please inform the PMCU office or email us at mustnews@must.edu.ph. Let us hear more about university news and continue to build our university pride!

N E W S L E T T E Rwww.must.edu.ph

The Official Newsletter of Mindanao University of Science & TechnologyC.M. Recto, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City

MUST trains students on reproductive health peer educationBy Jo Mark M. Libre

The Private Sector Mobilization for Family Health Phase 2 (PRISM 2), a USAID Project in partnership with the City Health Office (CHO), launched a program on reproductive health peer education last February 27 - March 1, 2013 at VIP Hotel. An action plan was designed for Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) to carry on the said project which aimed at meeting the reproductive health information needs of young people and mitigating the incidence of teenage pregnancies.

MUST hosts Regional Scientific Forum By Anne Lorraine R. Sitoy

The University, together with the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) and the Samahang Pisika ng Visayas at Mindanao (SPVM) as organizers, hosted the 2nd Regional Scientific Forum on the Recent Advances on Applied Science and Technology last August 21, 2013 at the MUST gymnasium. Out of the 438 participants, 208 are from MUST making a mark as the biggest contingent of the forum. Other participants came from Xavier University, Capitol University,

MUST supports...

The Extension Services Division of this University headed by Dr. Victoria O. Sumanpan presented several extension proposals to selected barangays in the city last August 2, 2013 from 2 to 5 o’clock in the afternoon at the AVR 2 located at the ICT Building.

Out of the 15 barangays who were invited, only the following barangays were in attendance: Barangay 22, Barangay 26, Barangay 28, Nazareth, Indahag, Puntod, Lapasan and Camaman-an. Junmark Vertudazo of the Philippines News Development and Rosuesa Eduave of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) were also present.

Extension Services Division presents new proposals to the cityBy Anne Lorraine R. Sitoy

Engr. Isidro Borja from the City Planning Division Center of Cagayan de Oro was the guest speaker of the said event. The members of the academe and the representatives of the barangays listened attentively as he shared his knowledge and experience on climate change through his message entitled “Vulnerability

Engr. Isidro Borja shares his insights on climate change

The program was implemented through a “Training of Trainers on Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health Peer Education and Helping for MUST” on August 23, 2013 at the Audio Visual Center with 37 participants. The activity was organized by the Student Affairs and Welfare Services in collaboration with Guidance Services, Medical Unit and Student Affairs and Welfare Unit.

Dr. Thomas dela Cruz, Jr. and registered nurse Giovanni N. Bitoy, both representatives from USAID, surprised the organizers with their presence by attending the said training. The resource speakers were RC Pearl Mustard,

and guests from the CHO - registered nurse Nice J. Bingona and Dr. Rachel R. Daba-Dilla.

following low-cost and balanced menus compiled by the Foundation. The parents also attend seminars on food safety, health and nutrition organized by Local Implementing Partners (LIPs). Assisting in monitoring the program are Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), DepEd Nutrition Officers and Nurses as well as JFC employee volunteers.

BLT supports the education and health agenda of the LGUs where the program is implemented. As such, LGUs are encouraged to spearhead a local alliance composed of public

and private sector representatives that will collaborate so that the issue of hunger among schoolchildren is addressed by the school and by affected families on a long-term basis.

BLT is anchored on the belief that its success lies in community engagement and ownership. Hence, local collaboration among stakeholders is promoted. These stakeholders are consulted at each stage of program implementation – from school and pupil identification, scheduling of monthly activities, results assessment to resource mobilization.

Sustainability is an important aspect of BLT. In order to cover more areas with limited resources, Jollibee Foundation commits its presence to a site for three (3) consecutive school years. The Foundation provides full financial assistance for the first year and then the assistance steadily declines.

From year one, however, the Foundation and USLS proactively link up BLT to other resource holders. Starting on the third year, the program is turned over to the LGU and a local civic organization to continue.

of Cagayan de Oro to Climate Change Extreme Events.”

The presentation of extension proposals from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the College of Industrial and Information Technology (CIIT), the College of Policy Studies, Education and Management (CPSEM) and the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA), followed. A Bitan-ag Creek Alliance meeting also took place after the presentations. Dr. Ma. Angeles D. Hinosolango, the emcee that afternoon, facilitated the open forum which transpired after the meeting. The closing remarks was given by the dean of CPSEM, Dr. Estrella F. Perez.

COC – Phinma, Gusa Regional Science High School, CDO National High School, MOGHS, St. Mary’s Academy of Tagoloan, Central Mindanao University (Musuan, Bukidnon), Bukidnon State University (Malaybalay City), Bukidnon National High School, Mindanao State University (Marawi City), MSU – IIT (Iligan City), and a representative from the Department of Education.

Dr. Oliva P. Canencia, Director of the Research and Development Division of MUST, gave the welcome remarks. An inspiring message was given by Dr. Sukarno D. Tanggol, Chancellor of MSU- IIT.

Five (5) resource speakers from MUST and MSU – IIT were invited to share their expertise, namely: Dr. Romeo M. Del Rosario (MUST Chemistry Department), Dr. Mark Nolan P. Confessor (MSU-IIT Physics Department), Dr. Arnold C. Alguno (MSU-IIT Physics Department), Dr. Reynaldo M. Vequizo (MSU-IIT Physics Department), and Dr. Rhoda A. Namoco (MUST Mathematics Department).

ACTIVITIES FOR SEPTEMBERSeptember 3, 5 & 6 Job Search Management Symposium

September 4 & 5 Annual In-House Review of Completed

Researches

September 22 I MUST Run (Fun Run)

September 25 – 28 University Intramurals

Student shares his experience to nurse Nice and other participants.