CATBALOGAN CITY – Samar State University (SSU) championed the ‘Convergence of Borderless Opportunities to End Poverty’ during the 3rd International and 6th National Conference on Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development (iPOVCON) on September 21-23 (22).
This year’s conference was co-hosted by the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) and collaborated by SUC and HEI partners in the Eastern Visayas including the Biliran Province State University (BiPSU), Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), Leyte Normal University (LNU), Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU), Palompon Institute of Technology (PIT), Saint Paul School of Professional Studies (SPSPS), Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), and Visayas State University (VSU). Adding to the SUCs that champion poverty alleviation and joining as new collaborators were from Regions 5 & 6 namely, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC), Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU), Central Philippines State University (CPSU), and Northern Negros College of Science and Technology (NONESCOST).
Conducted via a hybrid modality, a total of 493 participants attended onsite while the Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube live garnered 3176 views.
Serving as Keynote and Plenary Speakers were the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Hon. Aldrin A. Darilag, Global Health Focus (GHF) Executive Director Dr. Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III, Development Academy of the Philippines Dean Dr. Lizan Perante-Calina, Monarch Business School Switzerland Associate Dean Dr. Karina Ochis, and National Anti-Poverty Commission Undersecretary Paterna Ruiz.
Panel Discussants Department of Agriculture – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute Scientist I Dr. Casiano Choresca Jr., University of the Philippines -DNA Analysis Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute Head Dr. Maria Corazon De Ungria, Benguet State University Board of Regents (BOR) Dr. Ryan Guinaran, and ACCeSs@AIM Deputy Managing Director Dr. Erika Fille Legara also joined the event.
Anchored on Futures Thinking, tracks: The Futures of Data, Science and Technology Initiatives, The Futures of Precision Agriculture and Fishery, The Futures of Glocal Community, and The Futures of Scientific Governance were highlighted through paper presentations.
And among the 41 registered research entries for the conference, Dr. Felisa E. Gomba et al.’s paper titled “Status of Samar Bamboo Resources for Sustainable Production and Supply” emerged as the confab’s Most Outstanding Paper.
With Visayas State University (VSU) as Co-Host next year and other Partner Collaborators sharing the same goal, SSU shall continue to combat poverty and champion the Sustainable Development Goals for a better future for all.