"Food Systems and Leading Organizations in the New Normal," a public webinar will be webcast live on 5 August 2020, Wednesday, 10:00 - 11:30 AM Philippine Standard Time. This webinar is organized by the UP Mindanao School of Management. Register at: https://up-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QkFGR5b9ShGLe_qn2iEGPw. 

Webinar Title: Food Systems and Leading Organizations in the New Normal

Description: Topic 1:

UNCHAINED: FOOD SYSTEMS IN THE NEW NORMAL

by Prof. Sylvia B. Concepcion, PhD

Adjunct Faculty and Former Chancellor, UP Mindanao

The onset of COVID 19 pandemic drastically changed the way conventional supply chains operated. The lecture will discuss how the chains were before and during the community lockdown and what it should be so that businesses can thrive under the "New Normal" conditions.

Topic 2:

LEADING ORGANIZATION IN THE NEW NORMAL

by Atty. Marianne Esther Aniceto-Guinomla

Human Resource Director, Dole Philippines, Inc. Stanfilco Division

Lecturer, UP Mindanao School of Management

Many organizations have been caught off guard with the pandemic. Some organizations have adapted well, while some continue to struggle. Experts say only agile and resilient organizations will be able to survive the crisis and even emerge in a position of strength. What lessons can we gather from experts and from agile and resilient organizations? 

 

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UP Mindanao experts envision food systems and leadership in the new normal

On August 5, 2020, two experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao School of Management (SOM) predicted the future of food systems and provided lessons for leaders in a webinar entitled “Food Systems and Leading Organizations in the New Normal.”

According to UP Mindanao Chancellor Larry Digal as he opened the online forum, the pandemic agitated and disrupted both food systems and leadership in organizations. “Food chains are unchained and are going through a process of reconfiguring. Leaders know that their organizations and employees, their markets and stakeholders, are now subjected to economic and health shocks,” he added.

One of the two experts, Professor Sylvia Concepcion, an adjunct professor and former chancellor of the University, discussed the future of food systems through her presentation entitled “Unchained: Food Systems in the New Normal.” 

“Agribusiness is a chain of relationships,” she said. “Input suppliers are linked to farms, which are linked to marketing activities. But when public transportation was suspended and farm labor was stopped, vegetables had to be thrown away and everyone in the chain lost revenue,” she said. 

She observed that consumers need easy to cook, easy to prepare ready-mixed products from nearby stores, but that safety protocols should be in place for food quality. “The future of food now is in the localization of food sources. A shorter food supply chain. Production that is closer to the local community,” she said. 

“In households where income has been lost, there will be a shift to lower-priced items, and the seller must be able to provide for these market segments,” she said. 

Concepcion noted that local government units created a novel disruption in the conventional food supply chain when LGUs became direct buyers of basic food necessities such as rice and vegetables for their constituents. "Government should invest extensively in research and extension services so that a systematic approach to resolving disruptions in the food supply chains can be put in place to respond to calamities," she said. 

At the end of her presentation, Concepcion stressed the importance of the private sector’s readiness to take part in the Fourth Industrial Revolution by taking full advantage of the internet to significantly revolutionize the food supply chains.

The second speaker is Atty. Marianne Esther Aniceto-Guinomla, a lecturer at SOM and human resource director of Dole Philippines, who discussed leading organizations in the new normal. She pointed out that Republic Act 11165, the Telecommuting Act that made online work-from-home a legitimate work arrangement, was passed into law in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aniceto-Guinomla introduced the concept of an agile organization that could operate and succeed in the new normal, as articulated in an article published by the American management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. She said that an agile organization has a strategy guided by its north star that describes the organization’s purpose, a structure composed of empowered teams, a process of rapid learning and decision cycles, dynamic people, and uses up-to-date and enabling technologies. “This is especially true now since business had to shift to online work, which is predicted to continue until the end of the year or until the next year,” she said.

Moreover, she shared Prof. Linda A. Hill’s framework on “The 3 Imperatives of Being a Great Leader,” which is to manage one’s self, manage one’s team, and manage one’s network. The leader in an agile organization should identify the internal and external stakeholders and communities with whom relationships, purposes, and priorities are clear, and should be a visualizer of the ecosystem and its traditional competitors.

In closing, Atty. Aniceto-Guinomla said there is no “one-size-fits-all” in transitioning to be an agile organization. “An organization may adopt or adjust to acquire some elements that fit the organization or what are applicable, such as when organizational culture may be lost when there is no personal interaction,” she concluded.

In the open forum, listener and SOM colleague Lynn Monsanto shared how she was able to help mango farmers in Bataan province who lost their export market in the pandemic to sell as much as 2.5 tons of mangoes daily and create jobs in delivery for youths, by creating a network through friends in organizations and church in her free time.

To view the “Food Systems and Leading Organizations in the New Normal” webinar, check this link: https://www.facebook.com/UPMindanao/videos/3234363693346595/

CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE

To the UP Mindanao community:

In the past two weeks, we have been reminded that communication is key in our fight against COVID-19. We have strengthened our communication strategies through a series of community messages to keep everyone updated regarding the status of an employee who was a probable case. I am pleased to share with you that the tests yielded negative results. And I want to thank everyone for cooperating in the contact tracing process and in maintaining composure amid this particular challenge.

We are finishing our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Communication Protocols to better handle future encounters. We have designated a contact person for your health concerns and we will continue releasing community messages via our mass email system. I also encourage you to utilize our existing UP Mindanao Helpline for any of your concerns as I recognize that you might be feeling stress and anxiety during these times. And to our vulnerable sector in the University, for our immuno-compromised colleagues and senior citizens, we will comply with VP Yunque’s latest memo stating that the mentioned sector should not report to office at all.

Last July 23, 2020, we held a COVID-19 Awareness webinar with Dr. Julinda Acosta, City Health Office representative. We have particularly learned the proper definition of terms and we were reassured by Dr. Acosta that we should not worry about the presence of COVID-19 quarantine and isolation in the campus. Again, I enjoin you to stay informed and dismiss misinformation through legitimate sources of COVID-19 information including WHO, DOH, and IATF.

Regarding our isolation and quarantine facilities, the DOH has re-classified them into Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in Davao City. Confirmed cases will now be isolated in our Faculty and Staff Housing and suspect cases will be quarantined in Training Gym. In light of this, I ask everyone to consistently comply with our safety guidelines and protocols.

Let me also thank everyone, including two students, who attended our town hall consultation for the proposed city hospital on campus. I assure you that I have noted all your advice and recommendations and I will endorse them to our partners in the upcoming meetings. I am hopeful that we can come to be more comfortable in using online meeting platforms while still being able to give everyone the opportunity to express their sentiments.  

As you know, we have decided to postpone our commencement ceremonies for reasons we have articulated in our memo. This decision also aligns with the preference of a significant number of our students, as expressed in a survey conducted by our University Registrar. Aside from safety reasons, our students want to experience donning their sablay and marching with their parents through an actual ceremony.

Now, we will have more time to prepare for the advance enrolment of our incoming freshmen. Unfortunately, we will miss seeing them in our Atrium because the enrollment process will be completely online. We still don’t know when we will have the chance to meet them in person but I am certain we will.

The HRDO made their call recently for the ratings and targets, informing all of us that we have seen through the first half of this year. You may note that the accomplishments to be rated are from January to March only. I know that all of you worked hard during the disruption of operations due to COVID-19 and that can still be inserted in the IPCR.

I also announced recently that all units can proceed with their revised unit plans and make sure to incorporate a communication plan and IPCR targets into them. Although the pandemic interrupted our original plans, many of our previous efforts have landed in the right places and are now in progress. I am certain that we can still make 2020 a productive year by continuing our efforts in higher education, public service, and research and development.

We wouldn’t have made it through the past six months without all your support and efforts, and I am grateful for that. Stay in good health, always!

—Prof. Larry N. Digal, PhD, Chancellor

COVID-19 TRACKER

Community Messages released on 14 and 17 July 2020 informed the UP Mindanao community of two personnel who had close contact with persons who tested positive for COVID-19. A 14-day home quarantine was advised for them as well as the office personnel who came in contact with them, in accordance with DOH Memorandum No. 2020-0068. Office work was suspended for two days while disinfection of offices was done. Test results subsequently taken by the close contacts indicated both to be negative for COVID-19. However, completion of quarantine periods was done, as advised, and health guidelines were reiterated to all personnel.

GUIDELINES FOR WORK

Personnel are advised to comply with Memorandum no. LND 2020-076 that reiterates and has additional guidelines for operating in the work environment. Among the additional guidelines are for everyone to lessen face-to-face contact and to list the persons they have engaged in contact, daily. The accompanying DTI and DOLE documents contain the omnibus guidelines, for everyone’s compliance, where applicable. (https://bit.ly/2D4OnFe)    

Eighty-five faculty and staff attended the COVID-19 Awareness Webinar on 23 July 2020 with Dr. Julinda Acosta, Technical Services head of the City Health Office, as resource person. Personnel are enjoined to keep in mind the COVID-19 symptoms and the time periods when symptoms arise and when the disease can be infectious.  

Memorandum No. NGY 20-105 issued on 29 July 2020 ordered that all personnel who belong to the COVID-19 Vulnerable and High-Risk Groups are required to stay at home. Persons of this group who must report to the office must be issued an Office Order.  

UPDATE ON STRANDED STUDENTS

To date, only two students who are from Palawan and Cebu remain under the stewardship of the OSA for their future repatriation. The Palawan-bound student is scheduled to travel back home this July 30. Meanwhile, the two students from Zamboanga have waived their travel opportunities and chosen to stay in Davao City for now. All four are in good health and are in touch with their families.

COVID-19 INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS

COVID-19 Isolation Facilities

As conveyed in the Update on the Quarantine Facilities issued on 24 July 2020, the two UP Mindanao buildings assigned for use by the City Government for quarantine are now among those reclassified by the DOH as Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities. The UP Mindanao Faculty and Staff Housing (35 beds) will now accommodate mild suspect and mild confirmed COVID-19 cases. The Davao City-UP Sports Complex Training Gym (128 beds) will accommodate mild suspect cases. City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has pledged to have the facilities ready for operation under the reclassification. (www.davaocity.gov.ph). UP Mindanao personnel are reminded to review and comply with the UP Mindanao Guidelines and Protocols for these centers, available here: https://bit.ly/2T2DetO

Proposed city hospital and the Mindanao Health Initiative

The town hall meeting-consultation on 21 July 2020 on the proposed Davao City-UP hospital was the first general assembly of UP Mindanao constituents held via a teleconference. A total of 95 constituents attended, including two students. Chancellor Digal had his first opportunity to personally present to the UP Mindanao community the UP Mindanao Health Initiative, which has three pillars: the proposed College of Medicine, the Mindanao Center for Infectious Disease, and the partnership with the city government for a proposed hospital on campus. He showed that Republic Act 7889 that created UP Mindanao mandated a “medical education program that shall adopt a community-relevant step-ladder approach.” A UP Mindanao medical program could still harness the SPMC as its training hospital, being big enough to accommodate more medical schools. The undergraduate programs in biology, food technology, anthropology, and sports science are viable feeder programs for the medical program.            

Mindanao, likewise, does not have a center for infectious diseases, despite the data that says 8-9 out of every 10 incidences of disease in certain Mindanao regions are infectious diseases. For this, a proposal for a Mindanao Center for Interdisciplinary Applied Modeling, Data Analytics, and Biology of Infectious Diseases (IAMDABID-Mindanao) was submitted to the DOST-NICER program for funding. This center can network with UP constituent universities, Mindanao HEIs, government agencies, and civic organizations for the creation of a Mindanao Center for Infectious Diseases.

The proposed city hospital, when realized, will be the second public hospital in the city and can serve the population who are far from the present public hospital. It can also improve the health care for UP Mindanao constituents and can drive the development of growth areas nearby such as the proposed R&D innovation centers. The proposed hospital could eventually be a training hospital when it becomes a third-level hospital.  

Constituents expressed the prevailing sentiment to support the proposed hospital but emphasized the necessity of arriving at mutually beneficial arrangements with the partner agencies. The university is still waiting for a written proposal from the city. Student consultations will also follow.

Campus Master Development Plan

The progress of the UP Mindanao Health Initiatives and other developments is driving the completion of the Campus Master Development Plan. The CMDP has been drafted and is scheduled for presentation and review of the UP Mindanao constituents. The Campus Planning and Development Office will gather feedback through an online survey and a town hall consultation tentatively scheduled for August and September.

Mental Health Helpline

As of 27 July 2020, 40 students and 4 employees have availed of psychological first aid from the UPMin-OSA Mental Health Helpline.

STUDENTS: http://tiny.cc/UPMinMentalHealthHelpline

EMPLOYEES: http://tiny.cc/MentalHealthHelpline

The Counseling and Testing Section of the Office of Student Affairs, in cooperation with the HRDO, ITO and the Office of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, will conduct another mental health webinar (Part II) for employees and students, tentatively scheduled on the 1st week of August.

Land Reservations

In Barangay Talle located within the UP Laak Land Reservation, the Land Reservations Management Office donated two gallons of sanitizing alcohol, a pack of face masks, and two sacks of quality used clothing to residents in July. Five families received grocery packs containing canned goods, condiments, and basic commodities. Also, a cash donation was given to the barangay for the construction of a barangay isolation facility. In the UP Marilog Land Reservation, residents have signed up for the second batch of the soft broom-making training, scheduled on 30 July 2020.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

Academic Degrees

The close of Academic Year 2019-2020 produced a total of 48 graduates joined by 15 more from the previous semester and mid-term that were submitted for confirmation by the UP Board of Regents.

The Department of Architecture BS Architecture program announced 25 graduates led by 9 cum laude and 1 magna cum laude, Ms. Hazel U. Jumawan. The Urban and Regional Planning program announced 9 graduates of the diploma program and one from the Master of Arts program, Ar. Angelo Felix Regalado.

"Pagkilala sa UPMin Class of 2020"

"Pagkilala sa UPMin Class of 2020," a virtual yearbook and video presentation will premiere on 12 August 2020, 07:00 PM Philippine Standard Time on the UP Mindanao YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/c/UniversityofthePhilippinesMindanao), the Facebook and Twitter pages (@upmindanao), and at www2.upmin.edu.ph.

New PhD

Assoc. Prof. Jhoanna Lynn B. Cruz (Faculty, BA English, Department of Humanities) has completed her doctoral degree at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, with the dissertation "Writing Lesbian: Pushing Against Boundaries Through Nonfiction." Her doctoral study was completed with a UP System doctoral fellowship.

Search for SOM Dean

The Search Committee for the Next SOM Dean was constituted on 16 July 2020, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Isidoro Malaque III, with Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents, Atty. Roberto MJ Lara, as President’s Representative. The Search Committee has issued the Call for Nominations for the next Dean, stipulating the period 23 July to 3 August 2020. The public forum, where nominees will present their plans to the public, will be held online on 10 August. Sectoral consultations will likewise be held online on 11-13 August. The submission of the Final Report to the Chancellor is on 31 August 2020.

Search for CHSS Dean

The Search Committee for CHSS Dean made a last call for additional endorsement on 24 July 2020 in view of its schedule to submit its Final Report to Chancellor Digal on 31 July 2020. Constituents can expect a decision in the next Board of Regents meeting, tentatively scheduled on 27 August 2020.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

UPGRaDE

The UP Mindanao Growing and Developing Enterprises TBI (UPGRaDE) will hold its Online Pre-Incubation Program (OPIP) Virtual Demo Day on 1 August 2020, 2:00PM PST via Zoom. Six (6) startup groups will pitch their ideas and progress to industry representatives, guests, potential investors, and business owners. UP Mindanao constituents are invited to experience the world of technology transfer. Registration is at bit.ly/OPIPVirtualDemo

KaPatrol, a technology application developed under UPGrADE, was shortlisted for the Karagathon: A Hackathon to Combat Illegal Fishing in the Philippine, to be held over 1-31 August 2020. Karagathon is organized by Oceana Philippines, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Central Office, and the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute.

Lectures in Webinars

SOM will hold a webinar on 5 August 2020 featuring lecturer Atty. Maris Aniceto-Guinomla and Dr. Sylvia B. Concepcion as speakers. Links will be provided soon.

Prof. Ryan Songcayauon (Department of Architecture) gave a lecture “Crucial Role of Architects, Engineers, and Environmental Planners in Improving the Urban Greenery Situation in Davao City,” in the Project GUHeat Davao City Webinar on 29 July 2020. Prof. Annabelle Novero (Department of Biological Science and Environmental Studies), a staff member of Project GUHeat, gave the closing remarks. https://bit.ly/2EvAX5Z

Publications

“Camus’ The Plague and COVID-19: Some Philosophical Reflections,” by Raymundo Pavo, PhD (Department of Social Sciences), was published in Social Ethics Society Journal of Applied Philosophy, Special Issue: 2020: COVID-19 and Applied Ethics. https://bit.ly/30ND6RW

“Three decades of Philippine nonhuman primate studies: research gaps and opportunities for Philippine primatology,” by Lief Erikson Gamalo (Department of Biological Science and Environmental Studies), Brian Sabanal, Andie Ang, was published in SpringerLink, Springer Nature, 17 July 2020. https://bit.ly/3g7lcjA

"Architectural Form and Meaning: Analyzing Perceptual Cues of Power in the Design of Provincial Capitol Buildings in Mindanao, Southern Philippines" by Nory Loyd Narvaez-Pernes (Department of Architecture) and Mottie Idasanka P. Santos, was published in Banwa A, Vol. 13: art055. http://ojs.upmin.edu.ph/index.php/banwa-a/article/view/484

"Cultural and ecological significance of Odonata (Insecta) to the T'boli of Lake Sebu, Mindanao, Philippines," by Cudera, R, B Razon, and KJ Millondaga (Department of Social Sciences), was published in Biodiversitas Vol. 21 No. 6, June 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d210627

  

DONATIONS

UP Mindanao Pahinungod has adopted Kaagapay sa Pagaaral, a public service initiative launched on 21 July 2020 by VP for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, among its campaigns. Kaagapay aims to provide desktop computers or laptops and Internet connectivity to 5,600 UP students in need, system-wide, through donations.

Philippine Genome Center Mindanao received additional donations for its laboratories on 9-10 July 2020:

• UP Alumni Association Davao donated two (2) Purelink Viral DNA/RNA Mini Kits, two boxes each of 10 ul filtered tips and 1000 ul filtered tips, and three boxes of 200 ul filtered tips.
• Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus Batch 2020 Sanghaya donated 100 boxes of Kimwipes, 12 pedal-operated trash bins, 15 packs of interfolded paper towels, and five aluminum foil rolls.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS AND NOTICES

01 August 2020 - UPGRaDE Online Pre-Incubation Program (OPIP) Virtual Demo Day

03 August 2020 - HRIS Overview and Self-Service Training via teleconference, 10:00 AM

05 August 2020 - SOM webinar featuring Atty. Maris Aniceto-Guinomla and Dr. Sylvia B. Concepcion

08 and 15 August 2020 - Master in Management Admission Test

12 August 2020 – Premiere of "Pagkilala sa UPMin Class of 2020" virtual yearbook and video presentation

15 August 2020 - Deadline of SPMS II 2020 Targets

27 August 2020 – Last Thursday of the month, schedule of Board of Regents meeting

28 August 2020 - AUPAEU-Mindanao Online General Assembly

31 August 2020 - Deadline of SPMS I 2020 Appraisal

Schedule for Continuing Students

03 August 2020 - Town hall consultation on enrollment concerns

17-28 August 2020 - Pre-registration with online advising; processing of clearance

Advance Enrollment for First Year students

10 August 2020 - BS Anthropology, BA Communication and Media Arts, BA English, BS Architecture, BS Agribusiness Economics

11 August 2020 - BS Applied Mathematics, BS Biology, BS Computer Science, BS Food Technology

Search for Next SOM Dean

03 August 2020 - Deadline of submission of Nominations

05 August 2020 - Announcement of Nominees

10 August 2020 - Online Public Forum

11-13 August 2020 - Online Stakeholder Consultations

14 August 2020 - Interview with Nominees

31 August 2020 – Submission of Final Report to the chancellor

UP MINDANAO BULLETIN

1 - 15 July 2020

UP MINDANAO COVID-19 CASE SURVEY

There are no new or additional responses to the existing Student Tracking Survey, having remained at 384 responses. The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) will coordinate renewed efforts by student bloc leaders.

HRDO will send out the second round of the health and well-being survey for personnel, as part of regular monitoring activities.

GUIDELINES FOR WORK

Everyone is reminded to remain vigilant against COVID-19 infection, as reiterated in Memorandum No. LND 2020-061.https://bit.ly/37XIF3y. Additional guidelines for work will be released in consideration of the health and safety of all those who physically report for work and, by extension, their families.

UPDATE ON STRANDED STUDENTS

As of early July, four (4) students remain under the stewardship of the OSA and have updated travel documents as advised by the partner government agencies. The student from Palawan (1) is still awaiting the opening of their airport and final travel arrangements/instructions from the Office of Civil Defense, the agency in-charge of this assistance. Meanwhile, the student from Cebu (1) won't be able to travel anytime soon since he could not be issued a Travel Authority by the Davao City Police Office due to the current COVID-19 infection rate and Enhanced Community Quarantine status in their city. The two (2) students from Zamboanga have expressed their intention to remain in Davao City for now. The students are in sound mental and physical health while remaining in touch with their parents. 

UP MINDANAO COVID-19 INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS

PGC Mindanao assigned as training provider

In June, Philippine Genome Center Mindanao was assigned by DOH as a training provider for Hands-On PCR Training in Mindanao, alongside the UP National Institutes of Health in Manila and the Philippine Genome Center in Diliman and the Visayas. Consequently, personnel from medical centers in Butuan and Zamboanga cities availed of training in the PGC Mindanao labs in June, and personnel from General Santos City in July.  

COVID-19 Isolation Facilities

Two campus buildings are now in full operation as COVID-19 "We Heal As One" isolation centers under the management of the Davao City government. Since June, the Training Gym has accommodated persons during their waiting period between the COVID-19 testing and the arrival of the test results. The memorandum of agreement between UP Mindanao, the City Government, and DPWH-XI will expire on 20 July 2020, but Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte requested UP Mindanao for the renewal of the agreement in a letter dated 17 June 2020. UP Mindanao ExeCom approved the Mayor’s request on 25 June 2020. The University has requested updates from the LGU, including what has been done in the quarantine facilities, e.g., implementation of health protocols/ disinfection and numbers of transients accommodated.

City Hospital Proposal

The UP System Executive Committee composed of the university president and vice presidents convened online on 6 July 2020 to hear updates on the proposed hospital project from Chancellor Digal. Following the meeting, the chancellor extended an invitation to Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa to be a technical consultant for the proposed project.

EVP Herbosa is a medical doctor and is currently an adviser to the National Task Force on COVID-19 headed by Secretary Carlito Galvez. He served as Undersecretary of the Department of Health from 2010 to 2015 and as Coordinator of Foreign Medical Teams in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. He is also an associate of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine, the Johns Hopkins University, and the WHO Safe Surgery Saves Lives Task Force. In UP, he started the Fellowship Program for Trauma and Residency Program in Emergency Medicine. 

In an update, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla has also mobilized her team to help in the proposed hospital project, as well as the medical program and related activities.

UP Mindanao’s interest in the proposal is consistent with its mandates and strategic plan which includes a proposed College of Medicine, a Mindanao Center for Infectious Diseases, and the upgrading of university health and infirmary services.

For the proposed hospital, Chancellor Digal has scheduled an online town hall/consultation meeting for all UP Mindanao personnel on 21 July 2020, 1:00-3:00 P.M.

IAMDABID-Mindanao proposal

Assoc. Prof. May Anne Mata completed the detailed research & development program proposal for the proposed Mindanao Center for Interdisciplinary Applied Modeling, Data Analytics, and Biology of Infectious Diseases (IAMDABID-Mindanao) on 22 June 2020. This was submitted through channels to the DOST-Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) program for funding. The proposed IAMDABID Mindanao will work in partnership with existing disease centers/units in the country as it promotes the utilization of applied modeling, data analytics, and applied biological techniques to complement current approaches for disease surveillance, disease data analysis, and disease risk management.

Mental Health Helpline

As of 13 July 2020, 40 students and 4 employees have signed-up and were given psychological first aid by the professional partners of the OSA Mental Health Helpline.

STUDENTS: http://tiny.cc/UPMinMentalHealthHelpline

EMPLOYEES: http://tiny.cc/MentalHealthHelpline

LEARNING AND TEACHING

Faculty Referendum on Numeric Grades

A faculty referendum was undertaken on 29 June 2020 to seek a decision on the issue of whether or not to include numeric grades received by students in the 2nd Semester of AY 2019-2020 in the computation of the GWA. Some 71 faculty members were able to participate in the referendum that arrived at a decision for the “non-inclusion of the numeric grades received in the 2nd Semester of AY 2019-2020 in the computation of GWA, but students can apply for a waiver to the Chancellor requesting for exemption from this rule.” This decision was conveyed to Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Rose Bautista in a letter by Chancellor Digal and the details were conveyed to the faculty in a memo by University Registrar John Bengan. 

Town Hall Dialogue between students and the OVPAA

On 02 July 2020, more than 70 UP Mindanao students participated in the online Town Hall Dialogue with the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) that was co-organized by the OSA, the University Student Council (USC), and College Student Councils, with support from the IT Office.

Present were VPAA Cynthia Rose Bautista, Assistant VP for Student Affairs Richard Philip Gonzalo, as well as UP Mindanao Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Nilo Oponda, OSA Director Ma. Teresa Escano, and other officials.

In the session, the VP Bautista conveyed the plans for Academic Year 2020-2021, including the student support program, and spoke of the advantages of remote learning. For their part, the students shared their concerns as expressed in their college-based online student surveys, which VP Bautista addressed or noted in her replies.

Likewise, the student councils held their College-based Student Consultations on 2-3 July 2020. Their concerns were carried by the USC to the University Committee on Student Affairs (UCSA) Special Meeting on 7 July 2020 with university officials and the student councils from all UP constituent universities.  

Search for CHSS and SOM Deans

The period for nomination of candidates for dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences ended on 30 June 2020. Search Committee Chair Prof. Noreen Grace Fundador announced the nominees on 1 July 2020 as Prof. Karen Joyce G. Cayamanda, PhD (Department of Humanities), Prof. Raymundo R. Pavo, PhD (Department of Social Sciences), and Prof. Genevieve J. Quintero, PhD (Department of Humanities). The Online Public Forum, Stakeholder Consultations, and Interview of the Nominees were held on 6-10 July 2020. The submission of the committee report to Chancellor Digal is on 31 July 2020. The vision papers of the nominees may be read here: https://bit.ly/3fkvTyT

Regarding the search for dean of the School of Management, Chancellor Digal issued a memorandum on 23 June 2020 to call for nomination of personnel to constitute the search committee, to close on 3 July 2020.

Extension of application to the MS Food Science Program

The Department of Food Science and Chemistry announced that the deadline for application to the MS Food Science program is further extended to 29 July 2020 given the postponement of the start of classes to September 2020.

The 23rd Commencement Exercises

The Ad Hoc Committee for the 23rd Commencement Exercises (a virtual event) was constituted on 2 July 2020. Chancellor Digal instructed the committee to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the activity, scheduled on 30 July 2020, especially because it will be a first for UP Mindanao.

WRITE-XI

Professors Vic Calag and Vladimer Kobayashi have volunteered as course pack developers for the Commission on Higher Education-XI project "Working on Resilience and Innovation for Teaching Excellence in Region XI" (WRITE-XI). They are among the 664 volunteers from 58 HEIs who will write up on 145 courses (source: CHED-XI). IT-related courses have the most number of volunteers, which includes Prof. Calag, who will write on Object-oriented Programming and Fundamentals of Database Systems, and Prof. Kobayashi, who will write on Advanced Database Systems.

Activities began with the Webinar Series on Instructional Designing and Course Pack Development for Flexible Learning on 7-9 July 2020. Training on Learning Management Systems is on 27 July/3-7 August 2020.

  

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

In-House Research Grants, 2020 Cycle

The Center for the Advancement of Research, development, and engagement In Mindanao (CARIM) has received a total of 12 research projects for funding under the 2020 cycle of the In-house Research Grants, with 5 of the projects approved, 4 deferred, and 3 still awaiting confirmation. The approved projects are as follows:

• Malaque IR.* “Interlocking Blocks in Social Construction of Housing: The Collaboration of Government, NGO and Urban Poor in Los Amigos Relocation Site.” (P33,800.00)
• Del Mundo DMN*, Murao LAE, Otero MCP. “Pilot Investigation on SARS CoV-2 Wastewater-Based Surveillance in Davao City” (P100,000.00)
• Acopiado IMA*, Romo GDA, Sarmiento JMP, Acuña TR. “Effect of Women Participation in Manufacturing and Service Sectors' Performance in the Philippines” (P100,000.00)
• Sarmiento JMP*, Acopiado IMA, Alviola IV PA. “Technical Efficiency of Manufacturing and Service Sectors in the Philippines: Insights from the National Enterprise” (P97,000.00)
• Romo GDA*, Acuña TR, Acopiado IMA, Sarmiento JMP, Traje AM. “Organizational Resilience during COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from the Philippine Enterprises” (P99,600.00)

* Main proponents

Technology Business Incubation (TBI) Hub

UPGRADE Technology Business Incubation is doing the construction of the TBI Hub in Kalimudan in July for its technopreneurs and business start-ups. Materials, furniture, and equipment have been procured and construction is expected to be completed within the month.

Project Update with Monde Nissin Corp.

The Polylactic Acid (PLA) project partners UP Mindanao and Monde Nissin Corp. (MNC) held their first project update meeting on 15 July 2020 via teleconferencing. The MNC panel received updates on the milestones in the conversion of cassava starch into food-grade, pharmaceutical-grade, and polymer-grade lactic acid. MNC is committed to adopting the PLA-based technology, if proven viable, that uses renewable biological resources and is biodegradable for the packaging of its food products.

Marilog Land Reservation

Twenty residents of the Marilog Land Reservation participated in the soft broom-making training that was organized by the Land Reservations Management Office and held on 8 July 2020 in the UP Mindanao Upland Training Center. The brooms will be marketed when production reaches the target quantity. The brooms are products of the tahit-i grass growing project that was undertaken as an alternative livelihood for the beneficiaries and for soil conservation in the land reservation.

INTERNATIONALIZATION

Asst. Prof. Kriza Faye Calumba’s news story, “Durian and beer turned into healthy probiotic booze by Philippine researcher,” has circulated further overseas. It was published in the hard copy of South China Morning Post (Hong Kong; average circulation: 100,000 copies) on 5 July 2020 and Chiang Rai Times (Thailand) on 10 July 2020.

Assoc. Prof. May Anne Mata presented a paper “How modelers are shaping the pandemic response in the Philippines: Milestones, challenges, and a call for collaboration” in the COVID-19 Modeling and Public Policies Session of the COVID-19 Research and Educational Meeting, organized by the Canadian Mathematical Society on 13-16 July 2020.

DONATIONS

Philippine Genome Center Mindanao thanked the various donors to its COVID-19 training project in its report of donations as of 2 July 2020. The report listed 61 lots of supplies and equipment from 29 entities: individuals, private organizations, local government units, and the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines. The list is posted here: https://bit.ly/2VWYrqn