Lambunao, Iloilo — Faculty members and project proponents gathered at West Visayas State University (WVSU) Lambunao Campus from March 24 to 27, 2026, for the IMRAD and Proposal Writeshop with Technical Review, a four-day capacity-building activity aimed at enhancing research writing and project development aligned with community extension goals.

The writeshop featured a structured review of research and extension proposals using the IMRAD format—Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion—ensuring that outputs meet academic standards and address real-world community needs. Participants presented a range of innovative and community-focused projects, highlighting WVSU’s continued commitment to inclusive development and responsive public service.

Serving as technical reviewers were Dr. Marlene S. Gloria and Dr. Julie Gay B. Quidato, who provided expert guidance, constructive feedback, and recommendations to improve the quality, relevance, and sustainability of the proposed initiatives.

Among the projects reviewed were initiatives focused on cultural preservation, road safety education, cybersecurity planning, e-governance, and literacy and community empowerment programs. These proposals aim to benefit various sectors in Lambunao, Iloilo, particularly indigenous communities, local stakeholders, and educational institutions.

The activity allowed the participants to refine both research manuscripts and extension proposals simultaneously. This integrated approach ensured that projects are not only well-documented but also feasible and impactful.

Through this writeshop, WVSU Lambunao Campus continues to strengthen its role as a hub for research, innovation, and extension services—empowering faculty and staff to develop high-quality outputs that contribute to sustainable community development.

In an era where information is the most valuable resource for development, West Visayas State University (WVSU) is breaking down the walls between academic research and community application. At the forefront of this movement is the University Extension and Development Center’s One-Stop Information Shop (OSIS). 

What is the OSIS One-Stop Shop? 

The OSIS is a centralized digital platform that serves as a bridge between the university's experts and the community. By institutionalizing the transfer of "mature technologies" and research-based strategies, WVSU ensures that its academic excellence translates into real-world social transformation. Whether you are a local official, a farmer, a teacher, or a health worker, the OSIS is your primary gateway to the university’s specialized resources.

The heart of the OSIS lies in its extensive library of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials. These resources are organized into four critical pillars, known as the HELP 

H – Health: Access brochures, guides, and protocols on public health, nutrition, and wellness to improve community vitality. 

E – Environment: Find materials on climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and sustainable resource management to protect our local ecosystems. 

L – Livelihood: Discover technical guides on agricultural innovations and small-business technologies to boost local economies. 

P – Pedagogy: Utilize educational resources, teaching aids, and literacy materials designed to support lifelong learning and professional development. 

Bridging the Gap via Digital Innovation Beyond being a simple repository, the OSIS facilitates the university’s broader mission of extension and development. It allows for the seamless monitoring of extension projects across WVSU’s various colleges and satellite campuses, ensuring that every initiative is data-driven and responsive to the actual needs of the "Taga-West" community. 

By digitizing these services, WVSU makes its expertise accessible 24/7, transcending geographical barriers. 

Your Partner in Progress The UEDC-OSIS is more than a system; it is a commitment to shared growth. We invite all stakeholders—from government agencies to individual citizens—to explore the One-Stop Information Shop and utilize these free IEC materials to spark positive change in your own communities. 

Visit the OSIS Platform Today: https://sites.google.com/wvsu.edu.ph/uedc-osis Contact the UEDC: For technical advisory or partnership inquiries, please email us at extension@wvsu.edu.phor visit the Research and Extension Building at the WVSU Main Campus, Iloilo City.

West Visayas State University (WVSU) successfully held its much-anticipated University Days 2026 from January 26-30, 2026 at the Main Campus in La Paz, Iloilo City, under the theme "BANAAG sang West: Celebrating our Radiant Gleam in Illuminating Generations."

The week-long celebration, announced through Presidential Memorandum No. 26-031 signed by SUC President IV Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz and VP for Administration and Finance Dr. Peter Ernie D. Paris, aimed to promote academic excellence, innovation, and collaboration across the WVSU community. Faculty, students, and staff from the main campus, satellite campuses, and the University Medical Center participated in a series of activities throughout the week.

The celebration kicked off on January 26  with the setting up of exhibits, including college academic displays, an agro-industrial fair from satellite campuses, and the "KADIWA sa WVSU." The day culminated in a Gala Night at the Iloilo Convention Center, organized by the Alumni Affairs Office.

January 27 began with a Eucharistic Celebration at the WVSU Cultural Center, followed by a campus-wide parade at 8:30 AM. The Opening Program took place at the University Grounds at 9:30 AM, hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) in collaboration with the Faculty and Student Councils. Alumni Homecoming and lunch followed at the NAB Atrium.

The afternoon of Day 2 and the entirety of Day 3 featured Literary and Musical Contests across multiple categories—English, Filipino, Hiligaynon, Visual Arts, Short Film Making, and the highly anticipated Banggiangay semi-finals and Lip-Sync Battle. These events were overseen by the Office of the University Cultural Affairs, led by Dr. Ma. Christine Asuncion Dequilla and Prof. Liberty Porras.

The Development Communication Division of the WVSU College of Communication successfully conducted the lecture series “Responsible Use of Media and Digital Platforms: Media and Information Literacy and Proper Netiquette” at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo City last November 8, 2025.

This extension activity brought together more than forty (40) student and faculty participants in an engaging program that combined lectures, discussions, and interactive activities.

The forum opened with preliminaries led by Ms. Joesyl Marie D. Aranas, DevCom Division Chair, followed by a welcome message from Rev. Fr. John N. Tadifa, Rector of the seminary. 

 

 

 

The activity featured insightful a lecture on media and information literacy delivered by Dr. Rona Dhel C. Alingasa, Dean of WVSU-COC, followed by a dynamic group activity. Dr. Louis Placido F. Lachica, COC Extension Coordinator, also discussed the importance of responsible and ethical online communication, highlighting the need for mindful digital engagement. Lastly, a talk on faith and digital citizenship was led by Ms. Babelyn C. Cabalar, emphasizing how values intersect with digital behavior.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in group activities and output presentations that deepened their understanding of these topics.

With a shared goal of creating responsive and evidence-based community programs, the West Visayas State University–Lambunao Campus held a three-day Situation Analysis Workshop for the Drafting of Extension Programs on October 28–30, 2025, at the campus audio-visual room. The activity was conducted in partnership with the University Extension and Development Center (UEDC).

The workshop aimed to strengthen the campus’ capacity for participatory and research-informed extension planning. It also sought to ensure that future initiatives are closely aligned with both the University’s Research, Innovation, and Extension Agenda and the Municipality of Lambunao’s Development Plan.

Serving as the resource person, Dr. Ricky Becodo provided expert guidance and facilitated dynamic discussions throughout the sessions. His inputs helped participants identify key community needs, analyze development priorities, and design extension programs that are both relevant and sustainable.

To promote inclusivity and ensure local relevance, representatives from various sectors participated in key informant interviews. Their insights shed light on pressing community issues, emerging opportunities, and potential areas of collaboration—further grounding the workshop outputs in real community contexts.

This initiative highlights WVSU’s continuing commitment to advancing inclusive, research-based, and community-responsive extension services across its campuses. By strengthening its planning processes through data-driven and participatory approaches, WVSU–Lambunao takes another step forward in empowering communities and fostering sustainable local development.

In a world where creativity meets technology, the College of Communication (COC) Broadcasting Division of West Visayas State University (WVSU) is helping educators reimagine their classrooms—this time, through the power of film.

On October 29, 2025, the team from the Broadcasting Division headed to Don Benjamin Jalandoni Sr. Memorial National High School in Libongcogon, Zarraga, Iloilo for a one-day hands-on workshop titled “Creative Pedagogy Through Film: A Hands-On Workshop on Shooting and Editing with Mobile Devices.” The event was organized in response to an invitation from Mrs. Arlene A. Salvante, the school’s Officer-in-Charge Principal, who wanted to help her teachers explore new and engaging ways to deliver lessons.

The workshop was coordinated by Dr. Shiela Mae Quero, Chair of the COC Broadcasting Division, with Prof. David Arthur Quimpo hosting the day’s activities as master of ceremonies. The event was also documented by DYWV, whose team captured highlights and interviews for an upcoming feature on DYWV WEST TV.

Learning by Doing: Turning Classrooms into Creative Spaces

The sessions kicked off with Prof. Raffy Galan, who shared how teachers can use mobile devices as powerful educational tools. He highlighted film’s ability to make lessons more interactive, inspiring students to think critically and express creatively.

Next, Prof. Mary Kareen Gancio guided the teachers in developing their own classroom film concepts. Participants learned how to turn academic content into short visual stories, with a focus on simple yet impactful scriptwriting techniques.

Afterward, Dr. Miljoe Cabag led a session on mobile cinematography—covering framing, angles, lighting, and sound. The day wrapped up with a tutorial on mobile editing, facilitated by Arcel Vinz Agudo and Charisse Lemoncito of the WVSU Film Society, who shared practical tips on post-production using accessible apps.

 Lights, Camera, Action: Teachers as Filmmakers

For the culminating activity, 22 participating teachers formed small groups and produced short educational films based on their subjects. Their outputs—creative, heartfelt, and surprisingly polished—were screened before the COC Broadcasting faculty and the WVSU Film Society for review and feedback.

The session ended with reflections and an evaluation activity, where teachers expressed how the experience opened their eyes to film’s potential as a tool for meaningful, learner-centered education.

Empowering Teachers, Inspiring Learners

Through this initiative, the COC Broadcasting Division reaffirmed its mission to support educators in developing 21st-century teaching skills that merge media literacy, creativity, and pedagogy.

By the end of the day, the teachers of Libongcogon didn’t just learn how to shoot and edit videos—they rediscovered how storytelling can make education more human, engaging, and transformative.

By: Riza Charity June D. Rafols

New Lucena, Iloilo — A groundbreaking participatory research initiative is setting the stage for New Lucena to emerge as a model municipality for natural farming in the region. Spearheaded by Dr. Ricky P. Becodo, Director of the University Extension and Development Center and faculty member of the Development Communication Division of West Visayas State University (WVSU), the project brings together farmers, local government officials, and academic partners in a shared effort to promote sustainable agriculture.

The collaboration brought together farmers, local government officials, and academic institutions, notably the College of Communication of WVSU. Faculty researchers, along with BSDevcom and MDevcom students, played a central role in facilitating community engagement and documentation. The College’s involvement ensured that communication strategies were grounded in participatory development principles and responsive to local realities.

Key government participants included Hon. Jocelyn P. Espia, Chairperson of the Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Genalyn Fernandez, focal person for organic farming from the Municipal Agriculture Office. Farmer leaders also played a vital role, with Mr. Isabelo Luscares, Chairperson of the Organic Farmers and Producers Association of New Lucena (OFPANELU), and national awardee in natural farming, leading the grassroots efforts. Mr. Rodrigo Dominguez, another award-winning farmer, shared his recent success—harvesting 280 sacks of naturally grown rice from just 1.5 hectares—as a testament to the viability of natural farming.

The partnership began when Mr. Luscares and Mr. Dominguez approached Dr. Becodo to seek support from WVSU. Their shared vision has since evolved into a proposed program, currently in development, that aims to promote natural farming across New Lucena starting in 2026.

The research employed a range of participatory methods, including household surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, workshops, and policy reviews. These efforts culminated in five policy briefs that outline strategic recommendations for the municipality:

Policy Brief Highlights

PB1: Demo Farms. Advocates for barangay-level demonstration farms to enable hands-on learning. These farms should be integrated into local government plans and receive dedicated funding.

PB2: Strengthening Systems. calls for the operationalization of existing ordinances with real budgets, the institutionalization of a Municipal Technical Committee on Agroecology, and support for farmer-to-farmer mentoring.

PB3: Institutional Support. Recommends embedding natural farming into the Annual Investment Plan and Municipal Agriculture Development Plan, establishing a monitoring framework, and enhancing LGU staff capacity.

PB4: Gender and Youth Inclusion. Highlights the need for greater representation of women and youth in decision-making. Proposes the designation of focal persons, targeted training, and partnerships with schools and youth organizations.

PB5: Multi-Sectoral Collaboration. Emphasizes the importance of co-designing future initiatives through formalized partnerships, joint extension plans, shared training calendars, and data-sharing systems.

This participatory research activity held last August 27, 2025 marks a significant step toward institutionalizing natural farming in New Lucena. With strong leadership, inclusive planning, and multi-sectoral collaboration, the municipality is poised to become a national exemplar of sustainable agriculture rooted in community empowerment.