By Michael Visaya

To empower residents and their leaders through capacity-building activities, the Local Government Unit of Pinili in Ilocos Norte partnered with MMSU through a memorandum of agreement (MoA) on July 3 at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Hall.

Signed by MMSU President Virgilio Julius Manzano, Jr. and Pinili Mayor Rommel Labasan, the university, through the Extension Directorate and the College of Arts and Sciences–Department of Social Sciences, will conduct extension activities in the town.

Designed to address social issues and improve the community well-being in various barangays, the extension project will focus on local governance, financial management, conflict resolution, violence against women and children, suicide prevention, and providing support for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Dubbed “Panagtaribay iti Ili,” the extension activity will initially benefit three barangays of Pinili, namely, Sacritan, Liliputen, and Lumbaan-Bicbica. 

Dr. Manzano expressed the university’s commitment to community partnerships as it equates to growth and improvement.  “We look forward to working with LGU Pinili through this activity and to more programs that other departments wish to conduct in your municipality,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Labasan said partnership is of great help to their town, especially to the barangay officials who are new to leadership, and their constituents as well. He further expressed his gratitude to the university for the initiative to empower their communities. 

Present at the event were MMSU Vice President for Administration and Finance Fides Bitanga, Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Gerald Gallardo, members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Pinili, barangay captains of the three barangay beneficiaries, CAS Dean Marlina Lino, General Services Director Bensen Alex Pola, and faculty members of the social sciences department.