ISUFST, CPD WV ink MOA to enhance population-development database system

THE ILOILO State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) and the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), Region VI, have joined forces to enhance the Philippine Population and Development (PPD) Database System.

They formalized this collaboration through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.

The MOA ceremony occurred at 11:30 a.m. in the ISUFST Dumangas Campus Function Hall, Dumangas Iloilo, marking a significant step in bolstering the PPD Database System, with additional features, in Western Visayas.

Mr. Harold Alfred Marshall, CPD Regional Director, expressed the agency’s confidence in ISUFST’s expertise in information technology and database management. “ISUFST sets the gold standard in information technology and database management. This partnership aims to improve our services in the region. We foresee continued collaboration beyond this project as ISUFST becomes an integral part of our future plans,” he stated.

For his part, Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr., ISUFST President, underscored the university’s dedication to research and societal impact. “This MOA shows our commitment to research and in making a meaningful contribution to society which is the core of the mandate of the university,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Dr. Liza Belandres, ISUFST Dumangas Campus Administrator, highlighted the institution’s vision vis-à-vis the newly signed partnership. “This signifies our vision to attain premier research university status in Southeast Asia by 2030,” she affirmed.

The MOA signing ceremony witnessed the presence of ISUFST administrators, faculty, and students.

CPD, to note, underwent a significant transformation in the recent years, aligning itself with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). This shift prompted CPD to develop novel approaches, initiatives, and strategies for implementing the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action (PPD-PoA) 2023-2028. CPD-Region VI, tasked with executing PPD-PoA programs for Local Government Units (LGUs), embarked on the establishment of a PPD Database. This repository houses PPD-related data, including LGU demographic profiles, data on adolescents and families, and directories of relevant personnel in the region.

Last year, ISUFST collaborated with CPD-Region VI to create the PPD Database based on data requirements and mandates. The database was recently launched and, subsequently, suggestions were made to improve its efficiency and functionality. The MOA will incorporate these proposed enhancements before introducing the system to relevant personnel across Western Visayas.

This newest addition to the web of regional linkages of the school signifies a pivotal move toward informed, data-driven development planning in the region, delivering benefits to government agencies and institutions. (Herman Lagon)