The Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) recently conducted a regional integration and sustainability planning workshop for the project “Enhancing the demand for agriculture, forestry and natural resources (AFNR) graduates with high science and technology (S&T) for Zamboanga Peninsula state universities and colleges (ZAMPENSUCs)”.
The workshop was held at the Marcian Garden Hotel in Zamboanga City in cooperation with partner SUCs: Jose Rizal Memorial State University, Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology, and Josefina H. Cerilles Memorial State College.
Participants include representatives from government line agencies such as the Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources; provincial and municipal government units; private industry partners; non-government organizations and other multisectoral stakeholders.
In his inspirational message, PCARRD Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development Danilo C. Cardenas commended WMSU and its partner SUCs for their accomplishments and concerted efforts in addressing the declining enrolment in AFNR courses and low employment of AFNR graduates in Region 9.
Cardenas stressed the need for greater awareness of these issues as allied government agencies and the private sector are also affected by the AFNR human resources (HR) situation. He added that these agencies and the private sector have much to share in terms of feedback, experience, and resources to help alleviate the AFNR HR situation.
In closing, Cardenas challenged everyone to strengthen their current alliances and forge new public-private partnerships in support of S&T-based entrepreneurship development in AFNR.
The workshop is aimed to evaluate and disseminate project accomplishments, improve synergy of AFNR Program components, analyze entrepreneurship models used, and integrate results and lessons so that all project targets can be achieved within the remaining period of project implementation.
Incidentally, the workshop is the eighth in a series of regional workshops conducted all over the country for AFNR HR projects nearing completion. Since September, the PCARRD Project Management Office has coordinated similar meetings for regional project teams and AFNR HR stakeholders in Regions 1, CAR, II, III, V, XI, and XII.