PALARONG PAMBANSA
The Davao City-University of the Philippines Sports Complex served as the venue for the Palarong Pambansa Opening Ceremonies on 28 April 2019. News reports said an estimated 20,000 people attended. Chancellor Larry N. Digal and UP Mindanao officials were present. President Rodrigo R. Duterte was the Keynote Speaker. The President said that it had been 69 years since Davao City hosted a national youth sports meet and he thanked the parties who made this possible. He advised the athletes to make their life choices wisely and to learn life lessons from sports. The Palaro is the second major event held in the Sports Complex since its opening in January 2019. The closing ceremonies were likewise held in the same venue on 4 May 2019. The games played in the DC-UP Sports Complex were swimming, volleyball, football, and archery. Vice Chancellor for Administration Aurelia Luz Gomez and Department of Human Kinetics Chairperson Erwin E. Protacio served as UP Mindanao representatives to the Palarong Pambansa Executive Committee and contributed to coordinating the overall readiness of the DC-UP Sports Complex. UP Mindanao personnel Mr. Joel N. Sagadal and Ms. Krishna H. Balaga were likewise appointed to the multi-agency coordinating committee for security.
1. FOOTBALL FIELD CERTIFIED
The Football Field at the Davao City-University of the Philippines (UP) Sports Complex was issued a Field Certificate on 19 April 2019 by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for having passed the test according to their quality program for football turf. The certificate, signed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, accredits the field to host international football games from 17 April 2019 until 16 April 2022.
2. SUC REGIONAL SPORTS MEET
A total of 69 UP Mindanao athletes distributed among 9 varsity teams competed in the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association Region XI Meet (SCUAA-XI) hosted by Compostela Valley State College on 22-26 April 2019. UP Mindanao finished as 2nd runner up in a field of 10 state colleges and universities. UP Mindanao won as overall champion in women's swimming and in women's chess, while the men's swimming team was in 2nd place. The swimming varsity (men and women) collected 18 gold, 11 silver, and 3 bronze medals. In other categories, the women's beach volleyball team, and the women's futsal team were in 2nd place, the women's volleyball and men's badminton teams were in 4th place, the men's chess team was in 5th place, the women's badminton team was in 6th place, and the men's basketball team was in 7th place. In the newly-created demonstration sports, the women's football team was in 2nd place. Varsity Coordinator Prof. Armando R. Salazar reported that basketball officials commended the UP Mindanao team members for their sportsmanship.
3. FLOORBALL PROGRAM
The sport of floorball was played in UP Mindanao on 29-30 April 2019 through the Mindanao Floorball Development Program organized by the Philippine Floorball Association (PFA) and the Embassy of Sweden, with the participation of Hon. Harald Fries, Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines. Some 85 male and female students and coaches from various schools learned and played floorball with trainers Mr. Saldio Jesus Amador and Mr. Peter Eriksson. A set of 20 playing sticks, balls, and playing field goals were donated to the UP Mindanao Department of Human Kinetics at the end of the program. Ambassador Fries, who also toured UP Mindanao and the Davao City-UP Sports Complex, said "I'm convinced that floorball will be a great game in the Philippines and this is a good start in Mindanao. We'll keep in touch about that and many other things."
4. TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS INCUBATION APPROVED
The DOST Governing Council approved the UP Mindanao proposal titled “Establishment of the Technology Business Incubation in UP Mindanao” as presented by Asst. Prof. Miguel Carlo S. Guillermo and Chancellor Larry N. Digal on 8 April 2019. UP Mindanao was one of seven higher educational institutions who earned their approval on the same occasion. This is UP Mindanao’s initiative under the DOST-PCIERRD-HEIRIT program. Following the approval of the Technology Business Incubation, the UP Mindanao Technology Transfer and Business Development Office team of Ms. Lynda A. Buernaobra and Prof. Guillermo participated in the Business Incubation Management Training organized by the DOST and held on 22-30 April 2019 in Widus Hotel, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.
5. FLOOD HAZARD MAPS TURNED-OVER
The UP Mindanao Geo-Informatics for the Systematic Assessment of Flood Effects and Risks for a Resilient Mindanao, or Geo-SAFER Mindanao project, turned over flood hazard maps and provided a mini-seminar to officials of 5 southeastern Mindanao provinces on 11 April in Davao City in the presence of DOST-PCIERRD officials. The Geo-SAFER Mindanao program is being implemented by various HEIs in Mindanao, with UP Mindanao assigned to Region XI. Some 24 river system watersheds were mapped by the UP Mindanao Geo-SAFER project over the two-year period: Davao Oriental with 7 watersheds; Davao Occidental with 4; Compostela Valley with 5; Davao del Norte with 3; and Davao del Sur with 5, including 2 in Davao City.
6. LAND RESERVATION TRAINING AND PRODUCTION
Livelihood training on production of banana flour and related products was held at the UP Laak Land Reservation- Barangay Talle Side, on 10 and 25 April 2019. This livelihood training aims to equip indigenous people/women participants with product development and food processing techniques which they can use to process food products from the raw materials available in their community. This was organized by the Land Reservation Management Office in collaboration with Talle Barangay Council, Dibabawon Tribe of Brgy. Talle, and Talle Farmers Association.
7. INSTRUCTION & RESEARCH: CONFIRMATION CARAVAN
A UP Confirmation Caravan was carried out for qualifiers of the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) 2019 in UP Mindanao, Davao City, on 11 April 2019 and in Koronadal City on 13 April 2019. In the UP Mindanao Caravan some 271 qualifiers attended. The Caravan in Koronadal City had a smaller group and was held at the UP Manila School of Health Science Extension Campus. In addition to the regular admission topics, student support services were discussed by the scholarships officer and the dormitory manager.
8. DEGREE PROGRAM IN SPORTS
Dean Francis Diaz of the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics visited UP Mindanao on 8 April 2019 to meet Dr. Serge Opeña of the Philippine Sports Commission, UP Mindanao VCAA Nilo Oponda, Dean Jean Marie Juanga, and the UP Mindanao Department of Human Kinetics to plan for creating or adopting degree programs in sports. Joining the discussion were Prof. Norberto R. Madrigal of CHK, and Mr. Ismail Veloso III of ASAPHIL. The meeting is part of continuing efforts towards the creation of an institution for sports education as pledged by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on 10 January 2019.
9. TUKLAS LUNAS DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM
UP Mindanao was invited to be part of the Tuklas Lunas Development Consortium in a meeting with former DOST Undersecretary Dr. Amelia Guevara and Dr. Irene Villaseñor on 23 April 2019. UP Mindanao has the capability to participate in the consortium because of its existing drug-discovery laboratory which is funded by DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development. A memorandum of agreement was drafted by DOST for the review of the prospective consortium members.
10. RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
•Published in Agricultural Research, “Farmers’ Adoption of Hybrid Yielding Rice Varieties and the Implications to Self-Sufficiency: The Case of the Southern Philippines” by Prof. Larry N. Digal and Ms. Shemaiah Gail P. Placencia
•Accepted for publication in Asia Pacific Journal for Science, Mathematics and Engineering, “Ions Motion Optimization Algorithm for the continuous p-center location problem,” by Mr. Ley Meynard Opeña and Asst. Prof. Ritchie Mae T. Gamot
•Accepted papers for poster presentation:
o For the 1st International Conference in Science & Mathematics, 11-13 April 2019, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City, “Ions Motion Optimization Algorithm for the continuous p-center location problem,” by Asst. Prof. Ritchie Mae T. Gamot and Mr. Ley Meynard Opeña.
o For the 2019 International Food Technology Conference (IFT19), New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 2-5 June 2019,
“Utilization of alugbati (Basella Alba L.) leaves powder to increase Vitamin A content of fresh egg noodles,” by Ms. Pamela C. Soriano, Asst. Prof. Rovi Gem E. Villame, Asst. Prof. Aileen Grace D. Delima, Assoc. Prof. Juma Novie A. Alviola, Ms. Kriza Faye A. Calumba, Assoc. Prof. Pedro A. Alviola IV, and Prof. Emma Ruth V. Bayogan.
“Development of Moringa powder-fortified peanut butter cookies as potential snack item for Iron-deficient school age children in Davao City”, by Ms. Precious Sybli A. Sumaoy, RGE Villame, AGD Delima, JNA Alviola, KFA Calumba, PA Alviola IV, ERV Bayogan.
INTERNATIONALIZATION
11. VISIT OF THE AMBASSADOR OF SWEDEN
Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines Hon. Harald Fries and his wife Ms. Susan Fries toured UP Mindanao on 30 April 2019. In the College of Science and Mathematics, he was met by Dean Dominica D. Dacera and college officials. Briefings were given by Dept. of Biological Science and Environmental Studies Chair. Prof. Cleto L. Nañola Jr., Dept of Food Science and Chemistry Chair. Prof. Juma Novie A. Alviola, Drug Discovery Project Leader Prof. Joel Hassan G. Tolentino, and Geo-SAFER flood hazard mapping Project Leader Prof. Joseph E. Acosta with Supervisor Gus Kali Oguis. The Ambassador also toured the Davao City-UP Sports Complex. Ambassador Fries, in closing, said he looks forward to returning to follow-up on the floorball sport and other matters of common interest.
12. MANGO INDUSTRY RESEARCH WITH NEW ZEALAND TEAM
A delegation from the Embassy of New Zealand to the Philippines visited on 30 April 2019 to discuss the status of the mango export industry in the Davao Region and its prospects for trade with New Zealand using research findings. New Zealand Honorary Consul Vicente Lao accompanied the delegation composed of a plant and food research team and trade and enterprise business development manager. For initial discussion, Prof. Emma Ruth V. Bayogan presented her findings from her research on the Philippine mango export industry. In the meeting were NZ researcher Don McNoughton, Prof. Bayogan, researcher Ms. Gwen Ortiz, Chancellor Digal, NZ delegate Declan Graham, business development manager Mica Guevarra, and NZ Honorary Consul Vicente Lao.
OPERATIONS
13. STRATEGIC PLANNING
A UNIVERSITY-WIDE Strategic Planning Workshop was led by Chancellor Digal on 15-16 April 2019. The colleges and units presented and discussed their analysis and strategic plans, ranked them in order of priority, and re-distributed these under the strategic themes: Academic excellence and student experience; Excellence in research and creativity; Sustainable and enabling environments; Leadership in public engagement; People and culture; Operational excellence; and, International outlook. This is part of a process towards crafting a final plan document which will be presented to experts, sectors, and stakeholders in order to generate support for UP Mindanao’s programs.
14. INFRASTRUCTURE
The 2019 Palarong Pambansa used the DC-UP Sports Complex Football Stadium Phases 1 and 2 with seating for 2,003 persons, while Phase 3 was still on-going but was usable with seating for an estimated 1,000 persons. Temporary bleachers were set up by the city government for an estimated 1,000 persons. The Archery area was a cleared open space. Also completed was the Aquatics Center warm-up pool and main pool with starting blocks, touch pads, and the electronic scoreboard. Holding areas for swimmers and officials, and an area for open showers were completed. However, the bleachers were not completed.
See the Chancellor's Report here.
