Ms. Kate B. Refendor, Creative Communications Officer, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), congratulated the university as the first agency in Iloilo to get on-board of the FOI portal during the Freedom of Information (FOI) enhancement training for administrative council members at the HRT Service Center on October 31, 2018.

She also acknowledged the university’s promptness in complying with the FOI Manual, providing the list of all information the agency records, stores and control, and for posting of FOI logo at the agency official website.

Miss Refendor talked on the salient features of the FOI Program. She gave attention on the concept of access to information, requirements for FOI request, obligations of ISAT U and the parameters of disclosure of requested documents and the FOI workflow. It was also made clear that FOI is different from other services such as the 888 hot line of the Civil Service Commission, Anti Red Tape Act (ARTA), and the law governing ease of doing business.

On the other hand, the eFOI Portal (electronic FOI portal) and its functionalities and technicalities was elaborated by Mr. Kristian Veil Nierves, Planning Officer II, PCOO. Mr Nierves also underscored the flagging system as the internal warning system for the FOI officer in complying with the time requirement for the requests as provided by the FOI law.

The University conducted an employees’ welfare and benefits forum focusing on membership benefits from the Social Security System (SSS), Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-ibig) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)  on October 30, 2018.

Mr. Conrad S. Chiongson, Marketing and Sales Department Head of the Home Development Mutual Fund discussed the latest programs and benefits for Pag-ibig members. He gave emphasis on provident savings and shelter financing as the agency’s primary services.

Meanwhile, Ms. Geena Caro from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) offered the agency’s Expanded Primary Care Benefits (ePCB).

Mr. Arnel Genova, OIC team head of the Social Security System (SSS), on the other hand, encouraged non-members and even the government employees to enroll as voluntary member and avail the services of the SSS. He also mentioned that the Memorandum of Agreement for membership of JO and CS employees is properly implemented.

The meeting was also an opportune time for the school administration to update the employees of what is in store for them.

During the president’s time, Dr. Raul F. Muyong announced that the NBC 461 Cycle 7A will pushed through as per decision of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) to prioritize the human resource of the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).  The  Php 1.2 billion capital outlay (Php10 million/SUC) will be utilized for the promotion and salary adjustments of the faculty. “We give importance to the human resource. The infrastructure projects can wait, “said Dr. Muyong.

The university president also disclosed that PASUC has forwarded a position paper to the Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit and the Department of Budget and Management to reconsider the CSC- COA-DBM joint circular No. 1, s. 2017 governing the outsourcing of job orders and contract of service employees among the SUCs.

He also congratulated the employees for the university’s achievement of being an ISO 9001:2015 certified and enjoined them to work harder for the coming accreditation visit.

On plans and projects, Dr. Muyong announced that the university will enter into agreement with two agencies for textile development- the Project HABI with HABI Foundation and the 40 million hablon development project with the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI). ISAT U Dumangas Campus also submitted a business plan including an eco- tourism development at the 80 ha. lot at Brgy. Aglalana, Passi City.

Aside from benefits, the proper completion of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) form was also discussed by Ms. Maila S. Alparaque, HRMO II.

Finding the importance of updating the employees of their welfare and benefits, Dr. Gabriel M. Salistre, Jr. announced that this will be made an annual undertaking. The same activity was held last year with representative from the Government Service Insurance System.

One in advocating love and purity, youth from around the world gathered at ISAT U for the Pure Love Campaign of the 6th International Youth Assembly on September 22, 2018.

With the theme, Peace Loving Global Youth: Bridging Gaps Towards Sustainable Peace, the Universal Peace Federation and Youth, and Students for Peace (YSP) organized the event aimed at uplifting the moral principles of the youth.

Delegates from Albania, Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Cambodia, Nepal, Fiji, Korea, and Japan joined the Filipino youths in shouting “Proud to be a Virgin” and in condemning immorality in the society.

The World Collegiate Association for Research of Principles-ISAT U (WCARP-ISAT U) and the university administration is in full support of Pure Love Campaign. ISAT U President Dr. Raul F. Muyong welcomed the participants and reminded them the sanctity of marriage.

The WCARP-ISAT U is the first of the three university affiliates in Western Visayas.

Imee Tanan, WCARP-ISAT U President, said that “the activity is an awareness to make one an active individual; instead of becoming a problem, the youth will be made a solution to the problems of the society. “ She added that Pure Love is not only about sex. “Pure Love is an education. It is an awareness not only on pre-marital sex but on all problems on morality confronted by the youth today, “ Tanan explained.

The Pure Love Address of Dr. Robert Kittel, YSP International President and Pangasinan Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil underscored the importance of love and marriage.

Prof. Ritchell Jalipa, President of YSP Asia-Pacific led the campaign for 20 million signatures to promote Pure Love Education among the youth to end teenage pregnancy and HIV in the Philippines. The signature campaign is also was one of the purpose of the activity .

Day 6 and 7

Faculty and Employees Day, Search for Miss and Mr. ISAT U and Alumni Day
September 7                                                                                                        

 

A simple lunch was shared by faculty and staff at the Multi-purpose Center after the games. It was a way of bonding, recharging and getting away from every day’s normal routine.

In the afternoon, a professional lecture on the Impact of Industry 4.0 to Education was held. Engr.  Erwin U. Que, President of the Alpha Centauri Electrical Services, shared his ideas on the concept of Industry 4.0.

The cool and rainy afternoon turned warm as candidates of the Search for Mr. and Miss ISAT U displayed their charms and wits before the cheering and giggling crowd. Miss Jovi Marie Cordero of the College of Education was crowned as Miss ISAT U 2018 and Mr. Jonathan Palabrica, Jr. of the College of Arts and Science was Mr. ISAT U 2018.

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Alumni Day
September 8

The Alumni Day was one of the highlights of the week-long celebration.  It is a way of recognizing the importance of the alumni as one of the pillars of the institution.

The alumni gathered to cherish the memories of their college days at ISAT U. Varied activities were conducted to reminisce the happy moments with their classmates.