By Stephanie Camille Ilar

Mariano Marcos State University officially unveiled the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Corner through a ribbon-cutting and lighting ceremony at the Center for Flexible Learning (CFL) on July 17.

Installed on the columns inside the CFL, the corner features the 17 SDGs, aiming to promote sustainability among students and employees. The unveiling was led by MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. and University of the Philippines–Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders (UP-CIFAL Philippines) Director Michelle Palumbarit.

According to Dr. Arlene Gonzales, MMSU Sustainability and Futures Thinking chief, the launch of the corner testifies to the university’s strong and ongoing commitment by serving as a platform for education, engagement, and action toward achieving a more sustainable future.

Dr. Manzano, Jr. expressed his gratitude to UP-CIFAL Philippines for their presence during the unveiling. He said that the corner revitalizes the university’s desire to launch more initiatives for SDGs and become a self-driven institution aligned with sustainability.

“Let this corner inspire us to do more for sustainability as higher education institutions have a role in the realization of SDGs,” he said.

Employees, students, and UP-CIFAL Philippines officials also committed to supporting the realization of the SDGs through a signed pledge at the corner.

The event is part of MMSU and UP-CIFAL Philippines’ three-day Sustainable Development Goals for Higher Education training and workshop for administrators, students, and employees of the university from July 16 to 18.

UP-CIFAL Philippines is an international training center that serves as a hub for capacity-building and research through an agreement between the University of the Philippines and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.