TADIAN, Mountain Province – Apayao State College (ASC) President Nieves A. Dacyon was inducted as the chairperson of the Cordillera Administrative Region Association of State Universities and Colleges (CARASUC) on July 21, 2015 at the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) – Tadian Campus by Hon. Mayor Anthony D. Wooden of Tadian, Mountain Province. Dr. Dacyon took over the office after the current Ifugao State University President Serafin L. Ngohayon finished his term. Dr. Rexton Chakas, president of MPSPC is the vice chairman.
Mayor Wooden warmly welcomed the CARASUC presidents and representatives to his municipality especially to his tourist destination areas like the enchanted eel in Cagubatan, Gawaan Lake in Bana-ao and miracle water in Kayan, among others. Relative to the preservation of indigenous culture, he invited the CARASUC Group to his “Binangi “an indigenous house that features ethnic engineering and architecture. Dacyon and Wooden initially discussed possible partnership on cultural preservation as one of the projects of the CARASUC for MPSPC.
He said in his message that as SUCs, we are all Cordillerans, hence, we must be united.
“If we aim to integrate with the ASEAN countries, I believe strengthening CARASUC integration is the first step.” was the response of the new chairperson.
Meanwhile, CARASUC Executive Director, Engr. Loinaz Dulawan presented the executive report of the association for the last year which the board appreciated.
“The pursuit of the vision of making CAR the prime knowledge center in Asia has occupied the association for the past year and a half with the conduct and implementation of numerous programs, projects and activities geared towards the attainment of the CAR SUC vision, mission and goals,” Dulawan said in his report.
Further, the meeting highlighted CARASUC accomplishments for 2014. One of which was the production of a coffee table book entitled “Guardians of the Forest; Stewards of the Land”—a region wide publication of healthy Indigenous Knowledge on Environmental Conservation Program which started in 2012.
Future plans were also discussed. Among these is the continuing sharing of resources and capacity building among the CARSUCs along the current five complementation programs on academics, research and development, extension, faculty development, and infrastructure. Dacyon set the direction for the CARASUC’s initial undertakings as anchored on the need to continue the earlier conducted baseline researches under the CARASUC project with Former Senator Angara ” Restoring the grandeur of the Cordillera”. Dacyon looks forward to possible banner program/s for each SUC like the Indigenous Peoples Education & Development (IPED) programs which is already institutionalized in MPSPC, Biodiversity conservation and the conservation agriculture in the forest ecosystem is an on-going banner program of ASC, the heirloom rice and the Rice Rerraces of Ifugao, for IFSU, Bamboo for Abra State Institute of Science and Technology(ASIST), Coffee for Kalinga, and Organic Agriculture for Benguet State University(BSU).
Furthermore, complementary motions were raised and adopted to carry out development plans but with intensified policies and commitments. Technical Working Groups (TWGs) will be closely working on these.
Dacyon commended the past CARASUC President Dr. Ngohayon and the outgoing Executive Director, Engr. Loinaz Dulawan for their exemplary performance. She also took cognizance of the beginning of the CARASUC which was as an association since the birth of CAR as a region and which served primarily as a regional chapter of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC). She also recognized the significant contributions by her predecessors including DrMarcelino T. Delson, Dr.Ciprian Consolacion and others.
Dacyon said “as we cherish our beginnings, let us move forward and embrace change. At this time around, CARASUC needs to efficiently respond to the Philippine Higher Education Reform Agenda (PHERA), a component of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016. Let us enhance our survival mechanisms in attaining unity in diversity and in keeping with quality amidst adversities.
”What makes CARASUC different from the rest of the PASUC Chapters is our unique culture. Let us, therefore, renew our commitment to bring about culturally rooted development models, translate these to a more progressive CARASUC in the light of our common goal for quality higher education. ”, Dacyon ended.
