USM Deploys Personnel to Rubber Farmers’ Camp in Thailand
January 23, 2026
Following the formalization of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) and the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology (PFST), USM, through the Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension (RDE), Dr. Debbie Marie B. Verzosa, visited the PFST office in Marikina City on January 21, 2025 to officially move into the implementation phase of its collaborative science initiatives.
The visit served as a strategic coordination meeting to fulfill USM’s responsibilities under the existing MOA, with particular focus on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) initiatives. The primary objective of the visit was to finalize plans for an upcoming teacher training activity. This project will be a tripartite collaboration involving USM, the PFST, and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Cotabato Province. The training aims to enhance the pedagogical skills of local educators, ensuring that science instruction in the region remains globally competitive and innovative.
A key highlight of the upcoming activity is the participation of Balik Scientist, PFST Consultant, Corazon Salumbides, who will facilitate the training. Prof. Salumbides is a retired teacher of Jefferson Union High School in the United States. She is a key figure behind the creation of “all-in-one” teaching packages containing readily accessible materials, systematically assembled to enable teachers to conduct multiple experiments and classroom activities aligned with the official curriculum. Her trainings have reached various parts of the Philippines, and USM is grateful for the opportunity to co-facilitate two batches this year. These trainings will be co-facilitated by USM faculty experts in science and mathematics education.
The visit underscores USM’s commitment to its role as a key partner in advancing the innovation goals of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Through these collaborative efforts, USM remains dedicated to translating institutional agreements into impactful programs that benefit the academic community and promote science and technology consciousness across Southern Mindanao.
