The university proudly announces the acceptance of its faculty development project, “FROM GAPS TO ACTION: BUILDING RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES,” under the UBCHEA Faculty Development Grants for 2026–2027: Integrated Scholarship Addressing Environmental Sustainability.
The grant recognizes innovative faculty-led initiatives that integrate scholarship, community engagement, and environmental sustainability to address pressing societal challenges. The university’s project responds to this call by advancing research and action on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resource Management (DRRRM) in Tuguegarao City.
The project aims to assess existing gaps in DRRRM initiatives and develop evidence-based, actionable strategies that will enhance community resilience and environmental sustainability. Through a comprehensive and collaborative approach, the initiative will strengthen institutional and community capacities by promoting faculty development, integrating disaster resilience and sustainability into the curriculum, establishing the Academic Lifesaving and Emergency Response Team (ALERT), and developing a model resilient barangay that can serve as a replicable framework for other communities.
Anchored on the principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the project underscores the university’s commitment to fostering resilient institutions and empowering communities to better anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters while safeguarding environmental resources.
The project will be implemented by an interdisciplinary team of university leaders and faculty experts composed of:
- Dr. Luisa B. Aquino – Vice President for Academics and Research
- Ms. Jonalyn P. Santos – Officer-in-Charge, University Research and Innovation Office (URIO)
- Dr. Alvic B. Torres – Head, Center for Teaching and Learning and CICM Studies
- Engr. Gladwin L. Acorda – Program Head, Electrical Engineering
- Dr. Erovita Teresita B. Agustin – Director, Sustainability Development and Institutional Resilience
This initiative strongly advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development. In particular, it contributes to:
- SDG 4: Quality Education through faculty development, curriculum innovation, and experiential learning on disaster resilience and sustainability.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by strengthening local disaster preparedness, enhancing community resilience, and developing a model barangay that can be replicated in other localities.
- SDG 13: Climate Action by integrating climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction into institutional and community practices.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by fostering collaboration among the university, local government units, community stakeholders, and partner organizations to achieve sustainable development outcomes.
The successful acceptance of this project reflects the university’s continuing commitment to academic excellence, research-driven innovation, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. It further reinforces the institution’s vision of producing transformative scholarship that addresses real-world challenges while creating lasting, sustainable impacts for communities.
As the project moves into implementation, it is expected to generate practical models, strengthen institutional resilience, and inspire collaborative action toward safer, greener, and more sustainable communities—demonstrating how higher education institutions can serve as catalysts for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building a more resilient future for all.
#SDG4 #SDG11 #SDG13 #SDG17 #USLTPhilippines
