The basic political unit in the country – the barangay – together with the local government units (LGUs) and institutions surrounding them, are now the target stakeholders of the public service programs of the UPLB Department of Social Sciences (DSS).

This was made official during the virtual launching of DSS’s new umbrella public service program called “Soksay sa Barangay, Barangay sa Soksay” which was held via videoconferencing and Facebook livestreaming on April 29.

According to Reidan M. Pawilen, chair of DSS, this cluster of public service programs is the department’s offer to the country today and in the coming years.

“Sinasagot ng mga programang ito ang ilang mga mahahalagang pangangailangang panlipunan, lalong lalo na sa pangangalaga sa kultura at pamana, sikolohiya at kalusugang pangkaisipan, karapatan ng mga katutubo sa pag-unlad, at sa usapin ng gender at sekswalidad (These programs respond to important social needs, especially in the conservation of culture and heritage, psychology and mental health, indigenous people’s rights for development, and gender and sexuality concerns),” Pawilen explained.

During the virtual launch, faculty members from DSS introduced the three public service initiatives under “Soksay sa Barangay, Barangay sa Soksay.” These are the Cultural Mapping Program, the Psychological First Aid (PFA) Facilitators’ Training, and Culture for Development.

Bernardo M. Arellano III, head of and faculty member at the DSS History Division, talked about the department’s Cultural Mapping Program. It will capacitate LGUs in the conduct of cultural mapping, the consolidation of their local cultural profile, and the appreciation, conservation, and promotion of their local heritage and culture.  

These are guided by the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 and its amendment RA 11961. 

Last year, DSS trained its first batch of cultural mapping facilitators from its faculty roster.

Meanwhile, Jholyan Francis S. Fornillos, a faculty member at the Psychology Cluster of the DSS Sociology-Anthropology-Psychology (SAP) Division, oriented the audience of more than 100 online participants about the PFA Facilitators’ Training. 

According to Fornillos, this training program aims to develop community personnel who can provide “humane, supportive, and flexible response” to individuals who suffer or are distressed by situations such as disasters, accidents, acts of violence, and public health emergencies. 

Earlier, on April 11-13, 2024, more than 30 barangay officials and workers from Los Baños, Laguna, became the first PFA trainees of DSS at the opening week of its Social Sciences Month celebration. 

Lastly, Luigie Lursh G. Almojano, a faculty member at SAP Division’s Anthropology Cluster, introduced Culture for Development, which will mainstream culture among LGUs, non-government organizations, schools, and communities toward achieving human and social development.

Almojano discussed its three sub-components, namely, Cultural Sensitivity Training, Culture-based Governance Training, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices and Cultural Education.

Gracing the event were Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. and Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Nathaniel C. Bantayan, who delivered their respective messages.

Chancellor Camacho called “Soksay sa Barangay, Barangay sa Soksay” one of the most important public service and extension programs of UPLB and acknowledged how it will promote inclusivity among communities.

Vice Chancellor Bantayan referred to the said public service program as a “significant milestone” at DSS and UPLB and emphasized how it will contribute to the recently launched core area on Social Justice and Cultural Flourishing of the UPLB AGORA, the Research and Extension Agenda of the university.
Interested potential partner institutions and communities of the “Soksay sa Barangay, Barangay sa Soksay” may contact the DSS Public Service Committee, led by Ruben Jeffrey A. Asuncion, at (049) 536-2440 or [email protected]. (Mark Jayson E. Gloria)