The Tudlo-Turismo is an annual community outreach activity of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management aimed at promoting sustainable tourism to the different barangays in the province. Its main beneficiaries are the children in the community as it reckons that tourism awareness should also include the younger generation.

Now in its 4th year, Tudlo-Turismo 2025 was conducted at Brgy. Suba, Sogod, Southern Leyte last March 12, 2025. The success of this year’s event was attributed to the dedication of the FHTM faculty members led by its activity leader, Dr. Lucila B. Bacalla and the strong support of the local officials of the barangay, headed by Punong Barangay Hon. Elena T. Rondina.

Several fun and exciting activities were conducted especially tailored to the children beneficiaries to effectively spark interest in tourism to the young minds. Mr. Christian Errol Bandalan brought the kids to the different tourist spots in the province through a virtual suroy-suroy sa Southern Leyte. Children’s role in promoting local tourism was also the aim of the interactive talk of Dr. Jasmin Dayunan. Games, feeding and gift-giving activities were also enjoyed by the children of Brgy. Suba. In her closing remarks, Hon. Kareen Dela Cruz expressed her gratitude to Southern Leyte State University for extending their projects to the community.

Tudlo-Turismo is part of the FHTM’s commitment to the university’s vision of creating an inclusive society and a sustainable world through community engagement.

A vital seminar-workshop focusing on gender equality in disaster preparedness and response was held last February 15, 2025, at Brgy Gawisan Maasin City. The activity entitled Elevating Advocacy and Gender Awareness for Lasting Equity (EAGLE) was participated in by the barangay councils of Gawisan and Lunas. Organized by the Social Work Department in partnership with the CDRRM Office of Maasin City, the event brought together experts, community leaders, and concerned citizens to address the critical need for gender-sensitive approaches to disaster management.

The workshop emphasized the full participation of individuals regardless of gender. The seminar also addressed the importance of recognizing women as vulnerable individuals and powerful agents of change. Speakers emphasized the need to build on women's existing strengths and leadership roles in their communities.

The organizers of the workshop hope that the discussions and insights gained will lead to concrete actions that promote gender equality in disaster management. Future goals include the creation of gender-sensitive disaster response plans and the implementation of training programs for community leaders and emergency responders.

This event served as a powerful reminder that building resilient communities requires a commitment to gender equality. By empowering and ensuring their full participation, we can create safer and more equitable communities for all.

 The Office of the Extension Services of Southern Leyte State University successfully conducted a Workshop in Extension Proposal Writing and Compliance of Comments for the Faculty of Criminal Justice on February 19, 2025, at the RIES Training Hall. This initiative aimed to enhance the faculty’s capacity in developing and refining extension proposals to align with the university’s extension priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event emphasized the importance of extension programs in fostering community engagement and institutional development, particularly in addressing global challenges.

The workshop proper featured a lecture on crafting extension proposals and compliance with feedback, facilitated by Ms. Adelfa S. Diola, University Extension Director, and Ms. Adel Grace P. Gaudicos, Head of Extension Services. They provided key insights on proposal structuring, adherence to institutional guidelines, and strategies for strengthening extension initiatives. A question-and-answer session followed, allowing participants to seek clarifications.

A writeshop session enabled faculty members to draft, refine, and improve their proposals under the guidance of resource persons, ensuring alignment with the SDGs and promoting inclusive and sustainable development. By the end of the session, the participants successfully crafted three (3) extension proposals, each addressing critical socioeconomic and community-based concerns:

• Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Awareness and Prevention – Aiming to educate communities on laws, policies, and support mechanisms related to gender-based violence, this initiative aligns with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by promoting safety, empowerment, and legal protection for vulnerable groups.
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Response Program – This proposal focuses on strengthening advocacy and intervention strategies for gender-based violence survivors, ensuring access to justice, support services, and community education. It supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
• Development of an Electronic Crime and Case Database for Selected Barangays – This initiative aims to improve crime reporting, data management, and law enforcement coordination by establishing an electronic database system for barangay-level crime and case tracking. It contributes to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by enhancing data-driven decision-making and community safety.

In the afternoon session , presentation of the newly crafted and revised extension proposals. 

Through this capability-building initiative, the Office of the Extension Services reaffirmed its commitment to supporting faculty members in developing meaningful and impactful extension projects. The Faculty of Criminal Justice is now better prepared to implement extension activities that contribute to sustainable community engagement, crime prevention initiatives, and gender-responsive legal awareness programs.

The Office of the Extension Services of Southern Leyte State University is currently conducting a two-day Training Workshop on Impact Assessment of Extension Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) on February 13-14, 2025. Hosted by the Extension Office, this initiative aims to strengthen the university’s commitment to evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of its extension projects.

The training emphasizes the critical role of impact assessment in ensuring that extension initiatives achieve their intended goals and generate meaningful benefits for the community. The workshop also seeks to equip faculty members with the necessary skills and methodologies to systematically evaluate extension PPAs, providing valuable insights for improving future programs.

The workshop features renowned resource speaker, Dr. Rhoderick D. Malangsa, an expert in impact assessment. His knowledge-sharing sessions are providing participants with practical strategies to measure the success of extension projects effectively.

This initiative highlights the Southern Leyte State University’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that its extension projects drive impactful, sustainable, and community-centered development. By empowering faculty with enhanced evaluation skills, the university continues to elevate the quality and effectiveness of its outreach programs, ultimately fostering long-term societal growth.