NHA-XI and UP Mindanao teams discuss housing and land development opportunities

National Housing Authority Regional Manager Clemente A. Dayot and engineers Shariffuddin I. Nami and Pia Noelle Z. Velasco visited UP Mindanao on July 5, 2024, to present its housing schemes for local governments and similar agencies. The NHA team explained their P25 to P50 million packages for land development or housing construction options and the beneficiary agency counterpart. The UP Mindanao administration, led by Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao and Vice-Chancellor for Administration Leo Manuel Estana, welcomed the offer and expressed interest in pursuing housing and dormitory projects for university constituents, campus informal settlers, and indigenous peoples in the UP land reservations.  The university intends to pursue the development projects for the three constituencies in parallel efforts. The Campus Planning and Development Office, headed by Asst. Prof. Architect Jean Marie Juanga, was designated to lead the project developments.  The projects align with the UP's strategic plan for good governance, UPMin's pillars for welfare and resources, and the Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable communities and other goals.

(L-R) UPMin's Archie Bayalas, Oliver Telmo, NHA's Pia Noelle Velasco, Shariffudin Nami, RM Clemente Dayot, UPMin's Chancellor Lyre Murao, VC Leo Manuel Estana, Ar. Jean Marie Juanga, Atty. Charmaine Valentin, Arlene Gumapac, Joel Sagadal

The University of the Philippines Mindanao was awarded a 2024 Presidential Recognition for Outstanding Development Partners--Improving Access to Technology and Innovation category, for implementing the Innovation and Development Accelerators Consortium for Start-ups Davao (IDEAS Davao). 

UP Mindanao created the IDEAS Davao to facilitate collaborative initiatives to improve incubation programs, mentoring, networking, fundraising, and media exposure for startups in the Davao Region. They helped incubate early-stage technology-based and socially relevant startups through comprehensive business training programs, market access, networking opportunities, intellectual property management, and legal counsel for their members. 

The 2024 Presidential Recognition for Outstanding Development Partners aims to grant institutions and organizations that championed and paved the way for the sustained economic growth of the country with their programs to improve business climate, access to finance, markets, technology and innovation, and management/labor capacities of the micro, small and medium enterprises.

UP Mindanao Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Annabelle U. Novero (right-most) with DENR officials

UP Mindanao was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the DENR-Environment Management Bureau at its Waste and Water Summit on June 27, 2024, at the SMX Convention Center, Davao City.  The Certificate was awarded in recognition of UP Mindanao’s active participation in the crafting and subsequent approval of the 2023-2024 Davao and Talomo River Action Plan. The two rivers are the major Davao tributaries originating from the city watersheds, passing through the rural and urban districts, and discharging its waters in the Davao Gulf. The rivers were among the subjects of the LiDAR and Geo-SAFER mapping projects.    

Prof. Annabelle Novero, one of the former LiDAR and Geo-SAFER project leaders, received the Certificate on behalf of UP Mindanao.