Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development

09/12/2025

UPV joins PCA Simultaneous Nationwide Massive Coconut Tree Planting

The Philippine Coconut Authority–Region VI, headed by Regional Manager III 𝗗𝗿. 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗹 𝗝. 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻, together with PCA Iloilo Division Chief I 𝗝𝗼𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀 and PCA staff, successfully conducted the Simultaneous Massive Coconut Planting Activity at the designated site provided by the University of the Philippines Visayas – Miagao Campus, specifically in Brgy. Bacauan.

The event was participated by the UPV Community led by Chancellor 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖. 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗼, Vice 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗜𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗼, and UPV personnel. Also present were the Barangay Officials of Brgy. Lumangan and Bacauan, farmer leaders led by Mr. Job Ferolino and his team from Miagao Coconut Farmers’ Cooperative, representative from LGU-Miagao, Isidro Mosura of MENRO, whose participation enriched the collaborative success of the event.

Around 143 aromatic coconuts were planted with 9m x 9m in triangular distance. It is envisioned that this activity as well as the kickoff of the establishment of the UPV-PCA Hybrid Coconut Seedfarm last Nov. 28, 2025 in Brgy. Lumanggan will boost the development of the coconut industry and long lasting impact in the region.

Together, we move forward in advancing sustainable coconut development and environmental stewardship.

05/12/2025

28/11/2025

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒: The UP Visayas Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development held the “Strategic Meeting on Inter-agency Resource Optimization and Collaborative Development,” at the MILC, College of Arts and Sciences Building, Miagao campus on Nov. 28, 2025.

The meeting sought to address emerging challenges and opportunities that are critical to the optimal use of its land-based resources. It was a follow-up to the forum on enhanced coordination mechanisms conducted during last year’s UPV–LGU Miagao Friendship Celebration.

The participants included several offices under the LGU Miagao, representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Philippine Commission for the Urban Poor, and punong barangays of Lumangan, Malagyan, Paroon, and Mambatad.

Photos by Gian Genoveza, IPO

28/11/2025

𝐔𝐏, 𝐏𝐂𝐀 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭

The University of the Philippines (UP), through UP Visayas, and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) officially launched the Hybrid Coconut Seed Farm Project in Brgy. Lumangan, situated within the UPV Miagao campus, on Nov. 28. 2025.

The UPV Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development (OVCPD) and PCA-6 organized the official launch of the 25-year project between UP and PCA in a ceremony dubbed “Paranublion: Cultivating Legacy for the Future.”

A ceremonial coconut tree-planting was the highlight of the launch. It was led by Chancellor Clement Camposano, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Dr. Rhodella Ibabao, Miagao LGU Administrator Percy Borro, PCA-6 Regional Manager Neil Melencion, PCA-Iloilo Division Chief Joel Solis, and Brgy. Lumangan Capt. Angelito Ninal.

The seed farm aims to bolster the nation’s coconut industry by augmenting the supply of high-quality planting materials and supporting smallholder farmers, particularly in Western Visayas.

The project, funded under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF), targets to produce more than two million hybrid seedlings annually.

Through a memorandum forged earlier this year, UP grants usufruct rights over 17.76 hectares of land to the PCA.

According to the PCA, the seed farm will produce hybrid and open-pollinated varieties, with 70% of the harvests allocated to PCA’s replanting initiatives and 30% retained by UP for research and local distribution.

Moreover, the seed farm will function as a living laboratory for students and researchers.

Written by Carlson Alelis, IPO; with sources from PCA and UPV OVCPD
Photos by Gian Genoveza and Alven, Polido, IPO

28/11/2025

OVCPD emphasizes coexistence with wildlife on campus during lecture-forum

The University of the Philippines Visayas - Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development (UPV-OVCPD), through its Wildlife Response and Management Committee, emphasized the need to coexist with wildlife found in the UPV Miagao campus during the “Wildlife Guidelines Forum and Brochure Distribution” held at the MILC, College of Arts and Sciences Building on Nov. 24, 2025.

Dr. Diana Paguntalan, Project Development Assistant for Arboretum and Trails and Chair of the Division of Biological Sciences, served as the resource person for the lecture-forum that tackled wildlife encounter response protocol, attended by representatives from select offices of UP Visayas and the Local Government Unit of Miagao.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources defines “wildlife” as “wild forms and varieties of flora and fauna, in all developmental stages, including those which are in captivity or are being bred or propagated.” This definition is established under the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act 9147).

According to Dr. Paguntalan, UPV’s guidelines are in place to protect people, ensure proper and safe responses, support conservation and campus biodiversity, and promote responsible reporting.

She said wildlife encounters are classified as either non-emergency or emergency encounters, with the former posing no danger and not requiring immediate action, while the latter needs urgent response.

Encounters with wildlife require one to be “CALM” or to “create distance, alert authorities, let the wildlife be, and mind your actions.”

UPV constituents may communicate wildlife encounter responses through the UPV Miagao Campus Wildlife and Flora Facebook group, UPV Wildlife Response and Management Messenger, or UPV Health Services Unit page.

They can call or text the OVCPD-Site Development and Reforestation Project at 09957497128 or the Security Service Force at 09487308295.

Moreover, an interactive online brochure on encounter response protocol is available at https://upv-wildlife.my.canva.site.

These brochures were distributed by the Clovers, the academic organization of UPV Biological Sciences and Public Health students, to the participants of the lecture-forum.

Dr. Paguntalan heads the OVCPD-Wildlife Response and Management Committee, which includes faculty, university research associates, and staff from the Division of Biological Sciences and the School of Technology, and the various teams from the OVCPD.

For her part, Dr. Rhodella Ibabao, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, said, “We hope that by being informed and having more knowledge and skills when we encounter [wildlife] on campus, we know what to do – it is a protection for ourselves, but more so protection of animals with whom we share these spaces.”

Mr. Marlon Joel Ong, who is known for his encounters with wildlife on campus, shared his experience and emphasized the protection of wildlife.

The lecture-forum was one of UPV’s activities for the UPV-LGU Miagao Friendship Celebration 2025 held from Nov. 24 to 28, 2025.

Written by Carlson Alelis, IPO; with sources from UPV OVCPD
Photos by Alven Polido, IPO

26/11/2025

𝐎𝐕𝐂𝐏𝐃-𝐒𝐃𝐑𝐏 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐏𝐕-𝐄𝐃𝐂 𝐁𝐈𝐍𝐇𝐈 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐦

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development-Site Development and Reforestation Project (OVCPD-SDRP) of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) facilitated a guided tour of the UPV-EDC BINHI Arboretum at the Miagao campus on Nov. 24, 2025.

The tour, which sought to educate UPV constituents and partners on a variety of trees found on campus, was part of biodiversity and conservation efforts in commemoration of the 78th Anniversary of the UP Presence in Iloilo and the UPV-LGU Miagao Friendship Celebration 2025.

SDRP personnel implemented the structured, educational tour service designed by Dr. Resurreccion Sadaba, Project Development Assistant for Biodiversity. This complements the “UPV Campus Fauna Identification and Tagging System,” which supplements the ongoing tree tagging.

According to the OVCPD, the SDRP has planted thousands of native, high-value, and fruit-bearing species, including Narra, Pili, and Kamagong.

Meanwhile, last September, UPV formalized the collaboration with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) to conserve threatened and rare Philippine tree species found at the UPV Arboretum.

Together with First Gen-EDC, committed to improving UPV’s existing arboretum (started by GTZ in 1997) of threatened tree species by planting 250 tree seedlings from 42 species in an area of more than 20,000 sq. meters. Among the highly valued species planted were Malinoag, Molave, Philippine Teak, Bagauak-morado, Mapili, and Mangkonó or Ironwood.

Key to the arboretum's 1997 establishment was a partnership with a foreign forester and guidance from Dr. Malou Ang-Lopez, then faculty in-charge of the SDRP Team.

The arboretum is integrated with adjacent facilities in a self-sustaining cycle: Waste from the arboretum is processed in the existing campus vermicomposting facility.
The resulting soil amendments are used by the nursery and greenhouse. New plants produced in the nursery and greenhouse are used to grow the arboretum.

Chancellor Clement Camposano; Dr. Rhodella Ibabao, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development; Dr. Diana Paguntalan, Division of Biological Sciences Chair and Project Development Assistant for Arboretum and Trails; and Mr. Alan Dino Moscoso, OVCPD Project Development Assistant, joined the tour, together with OVCPD and SDRP personnel, faculty and students from various UPV colleges, Campus Development and Maintenance Office personnel, and representatives from the Miagao-LGU offices (Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, Municipal Planning & Development Coordinator’s Office, and Office of the Municipal Assessor).

Written by Carlson Alelis, IPO; with sources from OVCPD
Photos by Gian Genoveza, IPO

13/11/2025

Introductory Meeting with the Industry Consultant

Meet Mr. Joseph “Bonnie” Ladrido, as the industry consultant to Finance and Resource Analysis Staff under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development. He shall provide expertise and assistance on how to achieve OVCPD’s goal to 1) strengthen the financial planning and monitoring of projects, 2) enhance property utilization policies under OVCPD, and improve optimal use of UP properties in Iloilo City and Miagao campuses for long term arrangements. The consultant affirmed his commitment by giving insights and suggestions on the said meeting.

The introduction led by VCPD Bimbo Ibabao was attended by personnel under various units under OVCPD last 27 October 2025 at the Conference Room, FTBI Bldg. , CFOS Multispecies Hatchery Complex, UPV Miagao Campus.

17/09/2025

LOOK: The new multipurpose building inside the UP Visayas Iloilo City campus needs a name — one that reflects the University’s values, mission, and community spirit!

UPV would like to announce that it is now accepting submission of entries for the official renaming of the said facility.

Please submit the completed application form on or before September 25, 2025, to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development via email: [email protected].

19/07/2025

DPWH Iloilo 1st DEO, Rep. Garin turn over completed road project to UPV

The Department of Public Works and Highways Iloilo 1st District Engineering Office, together with Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette L. Garin, formally turned over the University of the Philippines Visayas Road Project to officials of the University in a program held last 17 July 2025 at the UPV Covered Court grounds, Miagao campus.

Chancellor Clement C. Camposano was joined by Vice Chancellor for Administration Farisal U. Bagsit and Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Rhodella A. Ibabao in formally receiving the completed project.

Chancellor Camposano and Rep. Garin highlighted the importance of the road project and its contribution in providing quality services to the constituents of UPV in their respective speeches. Mr. Leandre Fermin S. Mandario, Asst. Chief of the Planning and Design Section of DPWH Iloilo 1st DEO, presented the overview of the project. Carlo John M. Leysa, Chief of the Construction Section of DPWH Iloilo 1st DEO, gave the closing remarks.

The road project was financed by the Office of Rep.Garin, with support from Mayor Richard Garin of Miagao, Iloilo. Mayor Garin was represented by SB Lea Naldoza during the program.

Written by Gerthrode Charlotte Mabilog, IPO
Photos courtesy of Alven Polido, IPO

02/07/2025

On July 1, 2025, the OVCPD held an echo seminar for its personnel following the HRDO’s Seminar-Workshop on the Competency-Based HR System (June 9-10, 2025). Key learnings and insights were shared with the team to empower all OVCPD personnel to meaningfully contribute to identifying the functional competencies required to fulfill OVCPD's mandate.

©️Jenelie Acosa

27/06/2025