By Elaisha L. Pomida, BA Comm-4, The Centralian Link Intern
Key personnel of Central Philippine University headed by President Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy (holding the university logo on the right) and Iloilo River Plains Integrated School represented by Principal Dr. Raymond Peter Tolentino (holding the school logo on the left) pose for a photo in honor of the signed Memorandum of Understanding between institutions on January 30, 2026, at the Ideation Room, CPUGAD TBI.
In the commitment to further the extension and service-learning initiatives of the university, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Central Philippine University, represented by its president Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy, and Iloilo River Plains Integrated School (IRPIS) headed by Principal Dr. Raymond Peter Tolentino was signed during a ceremony held on January 30, 2026, at the CPUGAD TBI Ideation Room.
The formalization of the partnership was also graced by key personnel from both academic institutions, namely: Dr. Aries Roda D. Romallosa – Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension, Assoc. Prof. Sarex Dalida Dipol Jr. – Director of the Community Engagement and Service-Learning Center, and Dr. Stella G. Fernandez – Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from CPU, as well as Shiela N. Arancillo – Head Teacher III, Riza Joy P. Cantomayor – Focal Person, Felipe S. Bayonita Jr. – Faculty Club President, and Gerald Rey P. Liares – Faculty Club Vice President of IRPIS who all showed great support for the continuing initiatives of the schools together.
Dr. Raymond Peter Tolentino (on the left), Principal of Iloilo River Plains Integrated School, and CPU President Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy (on the right) share engaging conversations during the ceremony held for the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between institutions held at the Ideation Room, CPUGAD TBI, on January 30, 2026.
The signing ceremony officially commenced with a prayer led by Assoc. Prof. Dipol, followed by words of welcome given by Dr. Romollosa, who underscored the university’s steadfast commitment to not only uphold academic excellence but also “uplift the lives of our partners” in accordance to the institution’s mission.
Dr. Romollosa further recounted their visits to the integrated school, emphasizing the significance of this signing as the fruit of the collaborative discourses and assessment meetings with Dr. Tolentino.
Thereafter, the overview of the partnership was given enlightenment by Dir. Dipol, imparting with the guests the journey of how IRPIS was chosen as one of the university’s adopted communities and schools.
According to Dir. Dipol, IRPIS was chosen following a consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that informed them of the poorest communities in Iloilo City, where Barangay Lanit, home to IRPIS, was included in the list.
From this step, the university conducted community needs assessments that served as the bases for the creation of community development plans, executed through the implementation of the institution’s outreach programs.
IRPIS, Dir. Dipol added, has been the beneficiary of several extension programs of CPU such as its feeding programs and In-Service Training for teachers among others, and shall continue to be a recipient of the university’s upcoming initiatives such as the CPU-Kinaadman Reading Development and Diagnostic Services through this partnership.
“This is not just an initiative enacted following the 7722, also known as the Higher Education Act, aside sa instruction kag research, extension ang isa sa mga mandatory nga functions sang higher education institutions diri sa Pilipinas (This is not just an initiative enacted following the 7722, also known as the Higher Education Act, aside from instruction and research, extension is one of the mandatory functions of higher education institutions here in the Philippines),” Dir. Dipol said.
Moreover, Dr. Tolentino delivered a message that communicated the challenges and needs experienced by the school such as the infrastructural damage caused by Typhoon Tino among others, while also sharing their accomplishments, improvements, and renovations in response to the learners’ needs. One of these is the augmented support for the community’s daily feeding programs through facility improvements, urban gardening, and catfish culturing among others, as well the collaboration with the Ati community and tribes of Lanit.
Dr. Tolentino, who also shared his personal experiences as the founder of almost all integrated schools in Iloilo City and a staunch advocate for education for the community, further expressed his gratitude for the outreach activities and donations given by CPU to the IRPIS community. He conveyed that he is looking forward to a successful partnership with CPU, with the goal of eventually having IRPIS become “self sufficient and self supporting”.
Subsequently, in his message, Rev. Dr. Dagohoy shared why he is passionate about this extension as the son of a public school principal of over 30 years, while also communicating his hopes for the partnership, “small scale may it be, to have a lasting impact” to its valued partner, IRPIS.
“I really value extension coming from research and development, and hopefully our research will translate to real help to the communities around us,” said Rev. Dr. Dagohoy.
Finally, the learning institutions formalized their partnership through the official signing of MOU documents, followed by a photo documentation to commemorate the beginning of the collaboration.
As the ceremony came to a close, Arancillo expressed her profound gratitude and appreciation on behalf of IRPIS for the university’s support through its services, donated materials, and projects for its learners, promising to value this partnership throughout the Dr. Tolentino’s decade-long term in the institution.