UV adopts Barangay Kamagayan

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas, the university with a heart and Cebu’s first university, which was granted full autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education, recently launched its Green and White Tabang Sa Silingan Program, a university-wide community extension program with Barangay Kamagayan as its adopted community.

University officials, headed by Executive Vice President Dr. Jose “Dodong” R. Gullas, and Barangay Kamagayan officials, headed by barangay captain Celestino S. Avila, signed last July 8 a memorandum of agreement to formalize the partnership.

“The Lord said you should love your neighbors as you love yourself, thus the partnership with Mr. Avila and his council,” Gullas said.

UV, through its different department, colleges and even the alumni, will provide assistance to Barangay Kamagayan, he added. The College of Criminal Justice under Dr. Donald Narra will conduct anti-illegal drugs lectures, while the College of Engineering and Architecture will take care of sanitation efforts in the barangay. The College of Medicine under Dr. Raymund Leonard Cimafranca, Dentistry under Dr. Joy Cortes and Pharmacy under Dr. Emma Yaun will take charge of health education. The College of Nursing will also conduct HIV lectures. The College of Arts and Sciences will do parenting lectures. The Graduate School under Dr. Zosima Panares, Dr. EladioDioko and College of Education Dean Dr. Nerissa Lopez organized nursery and kindergarten classes as well ALS Program for the out-of-school youth. College of Business Administration Dean Rosemarie C. Español and Siegfred  Baldoza of the Technical Vocational OfficeLivelihood will head the livelihood and skills training activities. The UV Alumni Association, headed by Atty. Joseph Baduel, will also be working closely with the different colleges and will be sponsoring masses every Sunday at 11:00 am at the barangay’s Sto. Niño Chapel.

Gullas and his wife Nena also donated an image of the Sr. Sto. Niño from their personal collection to the barangay’s chapel.

The program, Gullas further said, will run for two years and the university is hopeful that this endeavor of Visayanian community can help improve the quality of life and the economic condition of the residents of Barangay Kamagayan.

Barangay officials, who were all present during the signing of the agreement, expressed their gratitude to the university and its officials for coming up with the program. They assured Gullas of their utmost support and cooperation to the university’s efforts. (FREEMAN)