The Philippines-Canada Network for Sustainability (PCNS), a network of higher education institutions (HEIs) formed to embark on collaborative activities for sustainability, will launch its satellite office at UPLB on Sept. 27. 

This event marks another milestone for PCNS after it was formed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as an off-shoot of the Partnership Study Mission during the Canadian Bureau for International Education Conference held in Toronto, Canada last November. 

Participating Philippine HEIs during the study mission that formed the network agreed to strengthen their relations and conduct capacity building, information exchange, and research collaboration, particularly on microcredentialing.

The PCNS aims to pioneer sustainability-centered microcredentialing activities, as an affordable and accessible way to upskill in the 21st century.

UPLB is one of the pioneer members of PCNS, together with Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University; Far Eastern University; Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC); Panpacific University; Romblon State University; Tarlac State University; Manila Times College of Subic; Universidad De Dagupan, Inc.; University of Southern Mindanao; World Citi Colleges; and WCC Aeronautical and Technological College (WCC-ATC).

The 12 HEIs signed a Memorandum of Understanding last Jan. 21 at the WCC-ATC Binalonan campus in Pangasinan to seal their partnership. 

The launch of the PCNS office at UPLB’s New Graduate School Building will be attended by UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero E. de Vera III, Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines Hon. David B. Hartman, Hon. Jose Manuel F. Alba, representative of the 1st District of Bukidnon, and officials from the PCNS member institutions.

New member institutions of the PCNS are also set to participate in the ceremonial signing of an MOU on the same day. These are Laguna State Polytechnic University; Lapulapu-Cebu International College; Mabalacat City College; Mindoro State University; Miriam College; Philippine State College of Aeronautics; and University of Eastern Philippines. 

The project “Engendering Climate Resilience and Sustainable Valorization of Bukidnon Indigenous Food Products” or Project MOCHA (Management of Coffee, Honey, and Adlai), funded through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), will also be presented during the program. 

Project MOCHA is a newly approved CFLI project led by Vice Chancellor for R&E Nathaniel Bantayan, in collaboration with PCNS member Northern Bukidnon State College. 

Project MOCHA’s main goal is to valorize or add value of selected indigenous food products from Bukidnon, particularly coffee, wild raw honey, and adlai, and promote sustainable agriculture. 

This project is one of the one of the outcomes of the ongoing and growing partnership of UPLB with Canada and PCNS. 

The event on Sept. 27 will be an opportunity for current and new PCNS members to form stronger ties and discuss collaborative activities. (Ana Margarita S. Palma)