In a landmark event at De La Salle University (DLSU) on Taft Avenue, Manila, DLSU and the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to strengthen academic collaboration and establish a Policy Center focused on localizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The ceremonial signing, held Wednesday morning, formalized both the general memorandum and the creation of a Policy Center in Iloilo. This center aims to drive research and community engagement in sustainable development and fisheries science.
Dr. Robert Roleda, DLSU provost, and Dr. Nordy Siason Jr., ISUFST president, represented their institutions at the signing.
Dr. Siason noted the collaboration’s transformative potential, saying, “This partnership marks a significant step forward in promoting knowledge-sharing and collaborative research in fisheries, agriculture, management, education, and technology, which will have a long-term impact on both institutions and the communities they serve.”
He emphasized that the Policy Center would play a pivotal role in extending research-driven, sustainable practices to communities outside Metro Manila.
The event included key figures such as ISUFST’s Director of Research and Development, Dr. Jescel Bito-onon; Director of Gender and Development, Dr. Lenirose Mondero; and Legal Counsel Atty. Joey Mondero, along with DLSU’s Dr. Francisco Magno, Dr. Jason Hecita, and Prof. Eddie Nuque. Their presence underscored the wide-ranging support for the initiative.
As ISUFST’s first UN SDG Policy Center, the project will support SDG-aligned policy initiatives and facilitate future projects, joint research efforts, and faculty-student exchanges, furthering both universities’ commitment to impactful, community-focused education and development.
By establishing this Policy Center, ISUFST and DLSU aim to localize UN SDG 17’s “Partnership for the Goals” principle, creating a model for sustainable, localized SDG initiatives across the Philippines.
This collaboration aligns with ISUFST’s vision of expanding its academic reach and DLSU’s mission to foster transformative, socially relevant education, paving the way for enhanced contributions to the scientific and educational landscape nationwide. (Photos by Nordy Siason Jr. and Jescel Bito-onon / Text by Herman Lagon / PAMMCO)
