As his term ends this month, Dean Enrico P. Supangco presented the major accomplishments of the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) last April 30 at the Institute of Animal Science Lecture Hall, CAFS, UPLB.

Prior to his presentation, Dean Supangco emphasized the importance of team work; hence, major accomplishments were achieved by the College. He attributed these accomplishments to the teamwork played by the different units of the college. “It was a great and challenging three years for the college; without the support of each one of you, we would not have accomplished big,” he said.

These achievements are as follows:

• Restructuring of the College which includes the renaming of CA to CAFS and transforming the five clusters into five academic units and four research institute and centers, with the inclusion of two specialized units. Dean Supangco explained that the primary purpose of the restructuring is to address the current trend in agriculture, focusing from primary production to the table. The restructuring also allowed the different academic/research institutes and centers to look at the industries they are serving for them to establish connections. Aside from these, the request for the position of Associate Dean for Instruction and Associate Dean for Research and Extension was also approved as they are now part of the hardworking team of CAFS;
• ASEAN University Network-Quality Assessment (AUN-QA) of the BS Agriculture Program last June 8, 2017 with a score of 5.1 or better than adequate. Further, the AUN Deputy Director commended the employers’ session of the BSA assessment citing that it was the best among the employers’ sessions he attended;
• Revised undergraduate curricula of BS Agriculture, BS Agricultural Biotechnology, BS Food Technology and BS Agricultural Chemistry with the inclusion of courses on entrepreneurship, institution of ethics, laws, and policies in agriculture to be adopted by other degree programs under CAFS, institution of Weed Science as a major, institution of specialized courses in agriculture, and capability of students of BS Agricultural Chemistry to take two licensure exams were proposed;
• Established academic partnership with University of Reading through a joint PhD by Research Program in Agriculture/Food Security and an initiative by the Center for Culinary Arts for a Diploma in Culinary Agriculture though the Memorandum of Understanding is still being processed;
• Obtained scholarships for the faculty and research staff through the Deutscher Akademischer AustauschDienst scholarships for MS and PhD in Animal Science and the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute Foreign Graduate Studies Scholarship;
• Upgraded the instruction laboratories
• Filled-up vacant Faculty REPS and administrative positions through Dr. Supangco’s regular follow-up with the UP System. A total of 399 vacant items (Faculty, 33; REPS, 122 and administrative, 234) were approved/filled up from 2015-2018. From a total of 671 employees in 2015, it has increased to 733 staff in March 2018;
• Improved the graduation rate of undergraduate students from an average of 4.9 years as time to graduate in 2015, the current average time to graduate has elevated to 4.5 years. This has been achieved because of the increase in the CA Fund for Emergency Loan (CAFEL) wherein 79 students availed from 2015-2018, strict monitoring of the students through the social media by the Office of the College Secretary (OCS), and provision of desktop computers for SAIS registration of CAFS students;
• Increased graduate students’ enrollment from 2015-2018, there was a 33.48% and 41.32% increase in enrollment in the MS and PhD programs, respectively. The off campus programs such as the offering of the MS in Entomology at the UP Professional School in Agriculture and Environment (UP PSAE) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte and MS in Agronomy at the La Granja Research and Training Station sponsored by the Sugar Regulatory Administration, MS in Food Security and Climate Change, and weekend graduate courses by the Institute of Animal Science were strategies that contributed to the increase of enrollment;
• Established institutional linkages with regional and international universitieswith a total of 25 CAFS students went outbound while 16 students went inbound with the universities the college has an existing active MOUs from 2015-present;
• Increased research and development activities. From 2015-present, a total of 197 proposals amounting to PhP 2.539 Billion were submitted to different funding agencies. The CAFS has also contributed in improving the faculty and REPS’ research capabilities by conducting R & D symposium, three technical writing workshops, and Scientific Career System Seminar. Further, the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) Advisory Board Council was revived;
• Revitalized extension activities in the countryside through the Farmer Scientist Training Program of the Agricultural Systems Institute (ASI) and the Quick Response Team of NCPC.
• Acquired equipment to enhance administrative functions. Thirty three iMAC computers and a new van were purchased. A van requested from the Office of the Chancellor was also given to La Granja Training and Research Center (LGTRS) to serve as their service vehicle; and
• Awards and recognitions received. The CAFS has been recipient of many awards and recognition such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Award for Outstanding Professional Chair Manager, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Center of Excellence in Agriculture Education, Top Performing School in the Agricultural Licensure Examination, and Beneficiary of 44 International Publications Awards to name a few.

Moreover, there are also initiatives in the pipeline such as the construction of IWEP building (PhP 100M), establishment of the CAFS Research and Development Center at Laguna Land Grant, sourced out funding for the construction of the CAFS Dean’s Office (PhP 100M) and the ICropS Academic Greenhouses Complex (PhP 32.2M).

In closing the event Dr. Portia G. Lapitan, vice-chancellor for academic affairs and head of the search committee for the new CAFS Dean, asked the audience to give their satisfaction rating to the accomplishments presented by the dean by means of an applause wherein the crowd showed their pleasure. (IM GESMUNDO, with information courtesy of CE Lee)