SLSU Main Campus Partners with Liga ng mga Barangay–Tomas Oppus for SLSU CARES Extension Project
Southern Leyte State University formally strengthens its partnership with local communities after sealing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Liga ng mga Barangay-Tomas Oppus for the implementation of the SLSU CARES: Community Action for Resilience, Empowerment, and Sustainability extension project.
The ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement takes place on May 5, 2026, at the Liga ng mga Barangay Building in Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte. Present during the signing are ABC President and Barangay Captain of San Antonio Hon. Ian Cruz Escano; Mr. Charlemagne T. Dalida, Municipal Local Government Operations Officer of Tomas Oppus; Dr. Francis Ann R. Sy, Vice President for Research, Innovation, Publication, and Extension; and Engr. Jonelle H. Tablada, Director for Extension and Community Outreach.
The partnership reflects the shared commitment of Southern Leyte State University and the Liga ng mga Barangay-Tomas Oppus to advance community development through education, capacity-building, and extension services. Through the SLSU CARES extension project, the partnership aims to strengthen community resilience, promote empowerment, and deliver responsive programs to barangays and local stakeholders.
The project will benefit residents of the municipality, particularly barangay officials, community leaders, youth, women, and other participating sectors. It seeks to enhance local capacities in addressing social, environmental, and governance concerns through participatory and community-based initiatives.
Hon. Escano expresses his commitment to supporting the initiative and emphasizes the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and local government units in improving community services and grassroots governance.
During the program, Engr. Tablada presents the overview of the SLSU CARES extension project, highlighting its objectives, priority activities, and expected impact on partner communities. He emphasizes the project’s goal of promoting meaningful and sustainable community engagement through inclusive extension interventions.
Dr. Sy also conveys her support for the partnership and reaffirms the university’s commitment to community-responsive and research-driven extension programs. She emphasizes that partnerships with local government units and barangay organizations are essential in advancing local development and community empowerment.
Mr. Dalida emphasizes the importance of the extension project in strengthening community participation, enhancing local governance, and creating opportunities for sustainable growth and collaboration within communities.
As the program moves forward, stakeholders express optimism that the partnership will strengthen local capacities, promote community resilience, and expand opportunities for inclusive and sustainable development in Tomas Oppus and nearby communities.
The initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through strengthened collaboration among academic institutions, local government units, and community stakeholders.