By Kimberly Miguel, Correspondent

Responding to the call for relevance and responsiveness, around a hundred faculty members and development workers of the Mariano Marcos State University virtually gathered for a training on extension service delivery today, December 2. 

In the activity, the participants from various departments of the University learned how to implement research-based extension activities which would bring real impact to target communities.

Dr. Almira G. Magcawas, extension director of Cavite State University, served as the speaker. She is also the OIC-Director of the Southern Tagalog Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research, Development, and Extension Consortium (STAARRDEC). 

Dr. Magcawas emphasized, "enabling people to own the process of development is an essential aspect of universities' extension projects."

For her part, MMSU Extension Director Marilou Lucas explained the vital role of extension activities in nation-building. “As the university's social change agents, we must know the whats, whys, ‘for whom’ and hows in doing extension,” she said.

Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, vice president for research, extension and business, seconded, saying “outputs from this training will surely contribute in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals."

The activity is in preparation for extension projects to be implemented starting next year.  

The training will continue on December 9 where participants present their working proposals, and have them critiqued by the guest lecturer. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)