Beginning on 03 August 2020, the College of Science hosted an 8-day webinar series that focuses on Online/Flexible Teaching and Learning.
With the current global situation, many institutions are fast-tracking their transition to online or distance learning models, and there is no better expert than UP Open University.
The series invited professors from UP Open University, primarily known as a distance learning institution.
The webinar, “The Boon and Bane of Social Media” was hosted online via Zoom on August 5, 2020 that featured three important and highly relevant topics with speakers from UP Visayas. These are ‘Responsible Use of Social Media’ by Prof. Lorenz Belanio of the College of Management; ‘The Legal Implications on the Use of Social Media,’ by Atty. Nellie Jo Regalado, UPV Legal Counsel; and ‘Be a Positive Influencer on Social Media’ by Prof. Jude Vincent Parcon, from the UPV Division of Humanities.
Ugnayan ng Pahinungod facilitated the donation of 30 units of prepaid WiFi modems to the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Iloilo on July 29, 2020 at the DepEd division office in La Paz, Iloilo City. Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Director, Prof. Ruben M. Gamala officially turned over the devices to Dr. Roel F. Bermejo, and Division IPEd Focal Person, Dr. Jesus C. Insilada, together with other key division personnel.
The 30 wifi modems were acquired through an open-use grant facilitated by University of the Philippines Visayas faculty on study leave, Donne Jone P. Sodusta.
One hundred test kits were donated to the Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Testing Center (EVRCTC) on 10 June through the Detect 100 – Sponsor a Test Kit Project organized by UP Maanyag, Batch 2007 of the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC).
The turnover was done at the Department of Health (DOH) Eastern Visayas – Center for Health Development in Candahug, Palo with Regional Director Dr. Minerva P. Molon and Assistant Regional Director Dr. Exuperia B. Sabalberino in attendance.
UP Hamili Brotherhood and UP Hamilia Sisterhood stepped up and did their share to serve the community while the country is battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Do-It-Yourself Face Shields factory was created at Villa Marina in Miagao with Hamili-Hamilia students and alumni members as workers. Materials for these face shields were supplied by the UPAA-Iloilo Chapter and the iAmUPHi. The Hamili-Hamilia assumed the work on the DIY face shields that was started by the stranded UPV dormers in Miagao.
The University of the Philippines Pandananon *(UPP), on their behalf, initiated various activities as part of their contribution to the dagyaw. When the organization called for donations, various sectors such as University of the Philippines Visayas, Northwestern Visayan College, Team KG/Team Iloilo Suits and Shields, and other Pandananons based overseas answered the battle cry. The donation drive collected a total amount of PhP 184, 913.39 while in-kind donation received alcohol, face shields, materials for face shields, and protective personal equipment (PPE), among others.
UP Visayas is on board in the management of the oil spill crisis that has recently struck the Iloilo City and province as well as the province of Guimaras after a power barge operated by the energy arm of Filipino multinational company, Ayala Corporation, spilled nearly 270,000 litres of bunker fuel off the coast of Iloilo City on July 3, 2020.
Experts from the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, UP Visayas (UPV-CFOS) shared new innovations and technologies for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the fisheries sector via webinar on July 16~17, 2020.
Six experts in fisheries processing and aquaculture technologies of UPV-CFOS introduced ideas and new business opportunities, which they have spent years developing, to MSMEs, entrepreneurs and researchers in the region as featured resource persons to the webinar “Business Opportunities for MSMEs in the Fisheries Sector to assist entrepreneurs to recover amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heroes emerge during times of crisis. The one brought about by COVID-19 has shaped UP Visayas’ College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences faculty Dr. Victor Marco Emmanuel “Noel” Ferriols into nothing short of contemporary public health hero. Not one to show-off his achievements, this low key Director of the Philippine Genome Center – Visayas played a critical role in setting up several COVID-19 Testing Center in Western Visayas harnessing the resources and connections of the research facility.
Students of UP Visayas may be considered as trail blazers in the creation of the ‘Do It Yourself’ face shields in the country. The initiative started after UPV student Hannah Labrador and her doctor mom introduced the idea to students stranded in the dormitories and boarding houses and supplied them with raw materials. The production started during the third week of March 2020.
