PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – The UP Padayon Public Service Office, in partnership with Palawan State University, brought together around 200 participants from various higher education institutions, national government agencies, and local government units at Palawan State University for the 5th Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference (CUPSCon5) on 28 to 30 August 2024.
With the theme, Future of Public Service in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects, CUPSCon5 provided a platform for public service practitioners, extension specialists, and researchers to engage in a meaningful discussion about the best practices, approaches, and issues in the context of today’s public service delivery.
The three-day conference opened with a keynote speech by respected broadcast journalist and UP Department of Journalism chairperson Kara Patria David-Cancio, who delivered an inspiring message about the transformative power of stories in delivering public service. Palawan Governor Victorino Dennis M. Socrates represented by Ms. May C. Lacao; Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucio R. Bayron represented by Councilor Victor Oliveros; PSU President Ramon Docto, and co-conveners, PSU Vice President for Research, Extension and Development Marjorie Espanola and UP Padayon Public Service Office Director Cherish Aileen Brillon also personally graced the Opening Ceremonies. The first day concluded with a Dinner and Socials Night featuring captivating performances from the Sining Palawan Dance Troupe and the Palawan State University Singers.
The second day opened with a plenary speech by Disaster Risk Reduction Management practitioner Earl H. Timbancaya, who discussed the best disaster risk reduction and management practices in Puerto Princesa City. One of the highlights of Day 2 was the Public Service Tour, during which CUPSCon participants were immersed in Palawan State University’s public service and extension programs: the Pre-Released Psychological Intervention Program (PRPIP) for Former Persons Deprived of Liberty in Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm and the Bahay Kalinga Child Development and Resource Center (BKCDRC) in Brgy. Kamuning, Puerto Princesa City.
The third day featured a lively plenary discussion by Dr. Michael Pido of Palawan State University, whose presentation focused on science, stakeholders, and critical factors in environmental and natural resources.
The conference closed on a high note with the awarding of the Judges’ Pick for best paper presentations (in no particular order):
- A Case Study on the Formulation of Sustainable Eco-tourism & Forest Management Policies of an Ecologically Balance Locality by Manolito C. Macalolot, Pedro Jayectin and Maria Amelie L. Jayectin, Bohol Island State University – Bilar Campus
- Pabebe sa Diliman: Preliminaryong pagbagtas sa apat na taong danas ng mga magulang sa UP Diliman mula lockdown hanggang sa kasalukuyan by Ma. Stephanie Joy A. Andaya, and Sarah Grace N. Valdez, University of the Philippines Diliman Gender Office
- Informal Education for the Rural Communities through School-on-the-Air: The Case of UPV’s DYUP 102.7 FM School-on-the-Air Program by Jude Vincent E. Parcon and Katherine T. Valencia, University of the Philippines Visayas
- Analyzing Participation in the Development of Voter Education Instructional Modules (VEIM) for *ACTIVE Citizenship by Prabhat Ranjan B. Ubas, University of the Philippines Visayas
- Trees in the City Project: Urban Tree Mapping through Citizen Science by Shane B. Bimeda, Joanaviva Plopenio, Ruth Lumbera Cañaveral, Jayrik San Buenaventura, Jay Abawag, Ruben Babar Jr., Sarah Mae Fulleros, Andre Soller, Daniel Emmanuel Gagalac, Paulo Enriquez, Juvylin Bismonte, Niño Cañaveral, Carlo Trinidad, John Dommel Guinto, Inna Francia Ruizo, Jasmine Antonio, Jerleze Mae Osea, Eunice Turiano, Jommel Abelligos, Earl Adrian Morcilla, Mikail Yshmael Alba, Melanie Ursua, Maria Leny Felix, Beau Albao, Paz Verdades Santos, Eli Santos, Rochelle Ongtenco Priela, Vanessa Cabase, Judy Portuguez, James Gonzales, Precious Badong, Nikka Bongulto, Ricky Regonay, Eileen Quitangon, Benjie Saludes, Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research, Ateneo de Naga University
- Participatory Communication Strategies ng Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) by Soleil Anniah C. Santoalla, Ana Caryl M. Ganiban, and Edgie Francis B. Uyanguren, University of the Philippines Diliman College of Social Work and Community Development Research and Extension for Development Office
- Sistematikong Paglalarawan ng Likas-kayang Kultura ng Bulnerableng Sektor sa Panahon ng Matagalang Pagbaha sa Lokal na Pamayanan by Dr. Alona J. Ardales, De La Salle University-Laguna Campus
- Navigating Challenges, Seizing Opportunities: A Look at Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Participation in Samar Governance by Dr. Abigail M. Cabaguing, Samar Island Center for Good and Local Governance, Samar State University
- Pahinungod Hybrid Volunteer Tutoring Program to Develop Elementary Children’s Reading Comprehension by Aurelio Vilbar, PhD, University of the Philippines Cebu Ugnayan ng Pahinungod
- Sagop sa Kinabuhi Program (SKP) of the Voluntary Submission for Reformation Persons (VSRP) in Davao City by Velouna R. Perez, Pamela Dawn G. Patayon, MBA, Jolly J. Laboy, MM, Eugene M. Bije, DBA, University Of Southeastern Philippines
- Telehealth program for symptomatic COVID-19 patients in Mindanao, Philippines: a whole-of-system, pragmatic interventional study on patient monitoring from isolation facilities to community reintegration by Dr. Jaime Kristoffer T. Punzalan, Zamboanga City Medical Center
- Audio Description: The Missing Accessibility Service for the Filipino Blind Community by Jerah Bernard L. Eusebio, University of the Philippines Diliman
The Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference, initiated by the UP Padayon Public Service Office in 2015, is the only academic conference dedicated to providing a platform for sharing innovative and collaborative practices and approaches and discussing challenges in public service.
