By Cyrus A. Natividad
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed on November 25, 2022 between Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, President, Central Philippine University, and Hon. Siegfredo A. Betita, Mayor of the Municipality of Carles, Iloilo.
The Memorandum of Agreement states that “CPU established a University Outreach Center as a service arm for implementation of social development programs that help improve the life of our people”, with the following objectives:
1.) To involve Faculty, staff, and students actively in the outreach programs and community services of the community. 2.) Each college/unit will have an integrated functional outreach program and with one additional partner community every two years. 3.) Establish linkages with national government agencies (NGAs), local government units, (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs). 4.) Regular monitoring and evaluation of programs and services implemented in existing and new partner communities. 5.) Partner communities and serving other communities.
The College of Hospitality Management has initiated periodic outreach activities in the Municipality of Carles for many years, although these were not consolidated. “Carles, through its Municipal Mayor Hon. Siegfredo A. Betita has requested the assistance due to the significant impact and ensuring the sustainability to impart and competitiveness of their MSME’S and Tourism of the College of Hospitality Management and indicate its willingness to avail of the outreach programs and services of the Department and, if possible, the whole University in a long term basis through partnership with a commitment to provide necessary support and cooperation for the good of its constituencies.”
The parties have agreed on the terms and references and working relationships, as follows: The parties hereto shall coordinate and work closely on various areas of concern to achieve the following objectives; 1. To provide opportunities/experiences for students, faculty and staff to apply theories learned in school to promote social consciousness and community involvement. 2. To jointly harness the resources of the university and the municipality to assist in the identification, prioritization and formulation of plan of action and its consequent implementation to solve the needs and problems of the municipality.3. To promote and maintain harmonious relationship between the university and community in which one learns from the other, and 4. To ensure measures to evaluate the impact of the program.
The Role of CPU through the College of Hospitality Management, is to assign students/ faculty/ staff to do community studies, community organization, civic welfare, literacy other services and community work; make available the resources of the University when necessary such as resource, persons, student’s involvement, participation and other community work. To provide available services of the university within the expertise of its different colleges, units as embodies in the aforementioned programs and services; facilitate coordinate activities to link up the needs of the community.
On the other hand the Role of the Municipality of Carles is to ensure the safety and security of students, faculty and staff assigned in the barangay for integration, exposure, practicum, and regular work; provide an office, place where the aforementioned CPU constituents can stay within the available period of the partnership; make available the resources of the barangay (both human and material resources) when necessary for the implementation of community projects; and provide necessary support including the aid of legislation and other mandated authority of the barangay council when the need arises for the approval and implementation of the project.
The agreement shall take effect upon approval of the parties for a period of 2 years and may be renewed, revoked on valid grounds, reasons, by the parties upon thirty (30) days’ notice. The Parties may, upon consent, amend or modify the Agreement by or through an addendum signed by both two parties.