NAVAL, BILIRAN, Philippines—Samar State University (SSU), in partnership with Biliran Province State University (BIPSU) and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Region 8, officially opened the 6th International and 9th National Conference on Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development (iPOVCON) today, October 8, at the BiPSU Gym, Naval, Biliran.

This year’s guiding theme reads, “Technology-Driven Solutions for Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Sustainability,” in the collective pursuit of tech-driven solutions to ending poverty and achieving inclusive sustainability.

Convener and SSU President Dr. Redentor S. Palencia led the open ceremonies with the enduring motivation behind iPOVCON.

“SSU birthed the Conference on Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development (POVCON) in 2017 to address the most challenging and pressing issue of all time—poverty,” President Palencia shared.

In the Philippines, Samar Province, where all SSU campuses are located, has a poverty incidence of 24.9% in 2023, the highest among the provinces in the Eastern Visayas region, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Dr. Palencia highlighted how the confab, in its ninth year, has produced lasting impacts beyond academic discourse, including the establishment of SSU’s Samar Island Center for Good and Local Governance (SICGLG), implementation of renewable energy projects, mussel farming technologies, and empowerment programs for marginalized groups, as evidenced by the university’s capacity-building initiatives through countless community services. As Dr. Palencia reported through his address,

“These initiatives have contributed to improved local governance, enhanced livelihoods, and sustainable resource management in Samar Province and beyond as we share these to other communities.”

In the same spirit, BiPSU President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. gave a #WoW welcome as the co-host and the official host campus of this year’s confab. Dr. Cañezo set the tone with a heartfelt sharing of his personal story, once a poor boy himself, aligning it with the collective motivation that drives iPOVCON. He then emphasized the shared responsibility of everyone to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and ensure that progress is inclusive—“leaving no one behind.”

Messages of support and inspiration were also delivered by various agency leaders and local leaders, including CHED Region VIII Director Dr. Maximo C. Aljibe, CESO III, duly represented by CHED Chief Education Program Specialist Dr. Leo D. Camposano, Governor Samar Province Hon. Sharee Ann T. Tan, duly represented by SB Member Hon. Jade Tiu, and Governor of Biliran Province Hon. Rogelio J. Espina. Their messages collectively highlighted the significance of stakeholder-driven synergy in addressing current poverty challenges.

The confab’s opening day will highlight keynote speeches and plenary sessions that will set the tone for meaningful dialogue, knowledge sharing, and new connections among conference participants.

The Poverty Conference is an annual gathering of educators, researchers, and advocates dedicated to addressing poverty in both local and global contexts. Hosted every year by SSU since its inception in 2017, the conference began as a solo initiative and has since grown remarkably with 31 collaborating institutions to date, and this number continues to grow year after year.