𝐍𝐁𝐒𝐂 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐓’𝐬 𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐨𝐧

𝐍𝐁𝐒𝐂 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐓’𝐬 𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐨𝐧

A strategic partnership is on the horizon for Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC) following a productive exploratory meeting with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Office of Bukidnon on June 17, 2025. The meeting, held in the NBSC Boardroom, centered on DOST’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) Program and concluded with an agreement to collaborate on a key community project.

Provincial Science and Technology Director, Ms. Ritchie Mae L. Guno, led the DOST delegation, presenting the CEST program’s goals. The initiative aims to build empowered, progressive, and resilient communities by addressing poverty through science and technology-based interventions in five key areas: economic development; environmental protection and conservation; disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation; human resource development; and health and nutrition. Specifically, DOST sought NBSC’s partnership for a project to benefit an identified community in Alae, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Representing NBSC, College President Dr. Christie Jean Villanueva-Ganiera embraced the proposal, signaling a firm “yes” to the collaboration. Joining her in welcoming the DOST team – which also included Ms. Nova Belle C. Olloves and Engr. Dan Anthony M. Negre – were key NBSC officials: Dr. Mary Koren Witting-Acuesa, Director of the Research, Development, and Innovation Division (RDID); Mr. Alven L. Gomez, Director of the Community Extension Services Division (CESD); and Ms. Khristine Joy P. Gubaton, CPA, the OIC-Director for the Finance Division. The discussion also opened the door for potential future partnerships on other related initiatives.

This collaboration directly aligns with NBSC’s core functions, creating a powerful synergy between its research and extension mandates. The partnership with DOST enables the college’s RDI and CES divisions to jointly translate academic and scientific knowledge into a tangible, high-impact project. It provides a valuable platform for applying research to real-world challenges, fostering sustainable livelihoods, and reinforcing NBSC’s role as a key agent of community development and technological empowerment in the region.