USM Partners with DTI, DAR Cotabato Province for CBDEM-ALLIES Project
October 10, 2026
KABACAN, COTABATO — The Extension Services Office (ESO) of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), led by Director Dr. Glyn B. Gabano-Magbanua, gathered key stakeholders on October 9, 2026, at the ESO Training Conference Room to review and finalize the office’s proposed Extension Agenda.
To strategically align the proposed agenda with current organizational structures and ongoing projects, Extension Unit Head Dr. Florence Roy P. Salvaña opened the session with an orientation. Monitoring and Impact Assessment (MIA) Unit Head Prof. Anamarie B. Uyangurin then presented the rationale behind the meeting.
Central to the session was the presentation of eight key themes designed to guide ESO projects through 2028:
- Quality Learning, Skills Development, and Literacy
- Social Development and Strong Institutions
- Preservation of Culture
- Environmental Protection
- Food Security and Poverty Reduction
- Good Health and Well-Being
- Innovations in Science, Engineering, and Technology
- Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Management
Throughout the meeting, stakeholders reviewed each theme and provided actionable recommendations to ensure community relevance and institutional alignment.
Partner institutions represented at the activity included the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) and Deputized Environment and Natural Resources Officers (DENRO) of Columbio, the Inter-Cultural Organization’s Network for Solidarity and Peace (ICON-SP), and Kabacan Pilot Central School (KPCS).
Other key stakeholders unable to attend, including the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) XII, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Kabacan, and Cotabato Province’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), were also provided copies of the extension agenda for evaluation.
Highlighting the necessity of multi-sectoral cooperation, ESO Director Dr. Magbanua stated: “As we finalize the Extension Agenda while considering your recommendations, we hope to also establish the alignment of these agendas with Regional Development Plans, National Development Plans, and Sustainable Development Goals to make sure that our extension programs deliver meaningful and sustainable impact to the communities we serve.”
Following stakeholder input, the draft agenda will undergo evaluation by the University Research, Development, and Extension Committee (URDEC) prior to official implementation.
By fostering collaboration and continuous feedback, the stakeholder meeting ensured that the Extension Services Office will deliver high-impact programs responsive to the needs of its partner agencies and target communities.
