During the University’s celebration of its 41st Foundation Anniversary which was held at the Ortega Gym, North La Union Campus, Bacnotan, La Union on January 14, 2022, Dr. Jaime I. Manuel, Jr., presented the University’s highlights of accomplishments. He underscored DMMMSU’s performance in quality assurance, instruction, research and extension, and infrastructure.
Quality Assurance
Under quality assurance, he reported that after having passed ISO 9001: 2015 standards for quality management system where a total of 24 processes were assessed in November 2020, DMMMSU successfully hurdled Year 1 Surveillance Audit in November 2021.
“This serves as a highlight in the pages of DMMMSU chronicle as this validates the fact that the men and women of DMMMSU are dynamos –- highly energetic, indefatigable. We only needed to conceptualize a goal, to strategize, and to wrap it with unceasing determination to achieve what we have envisaged to achieve,” President Manuel remarked.
He attributed this accomplishment to the University’s ISO Manager and VP for Administration, Dr. Estrella N. Perez, and to Dr. Angelita Prado, Director for Quality Assurance, and to all internal quality assurance auditors and auditees.
Another accomplishment under quality assurance is DMMMSU’s conferment by Civil Service Commission-Region 1 Office (CSC RO1) a Certificate of Recognition for passing the standards for Maturity Level 2 indicators for Rewards and Recognition (R&R) System under CSC’s Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM).
“That award, however, is not only our target. We still need to prove our University’s competencies in the other three systems namely Recruitment, Selection, and Placement; Learning and Development; and Performance Management. All these three other systems are in fact being implemented in the University. We only need time to prepare the documents for assessment by CSC this year.” President Manuel, added.
Instruction
Under instruction, President Manuel highlighted the 20 academic programs which have been accredited Level IV by AACCUP.
Also, 89 percent of our accreditable programs have already been accredited, which means that DMMMSU is very much ready for Institutional Accreditation this year, as it has surpassed the 75 percent requirement by AACCUP for an institution to be qualify for institutional accreditation.
Because of the University’s unparalleled performance in program accreditation, AACCUP awarded DMMMSU in February last year as:
- Top 1 in the Highest Number of Level IV Accredited Programs in 2020,
- Top 2 in the Highest Number of Level III Accredited Programs in 2020, and
- Top 3 in the Highest Number of Level IV Accredited Programs in 2019.
He also underscored that DMMMSU continues to produce topnotch graduates who are much preferred in the industry and who perform well in licensure examinations. The topnotchers in licensure examinations in 2021 are the following:
- Monica E. Gacayan who ranked fifth (83.08%) in the Veterinarian Licensure Examination administered in Aug & Sept 2021,
- Denver G. Frigillana who ranked 9th (82.18) in the Veterinarian Licensure Examination administered in Aug & Sept 2021, and
- Bustamante F. Molina who ranked 8th (84.50) in the Agriculturist Licensure Examination administered in November 2021.
“As challenges and difficulties have doubled in our teaching and in all other processes in the workplace because of the pandemic, we needed some equipping, upskilling, and cross-skilling through a series of trainings and webinars. For this, we utilized 14.5 million pesos,” President Manuel further emphasized.
“Also, we continue to support teaching and nonteaching personnel through our Faculty and Staff Development Program. In 2021, we approved 16 MA/MS scholars, and 1 PhD scholar. We also approved 2 PhD CHED scholar. In total, we have 29 MA/MS scholars and 54 PhD scholars,” he mentioned as he pleaded that faculty members and nonteaching personnel heed the call for scholarship.
Research and Extension
As for research and extension, President Manuel mentioned about the large fund allocation. In 2020, 8.1 million pesos was allocated. In 2021, it increased to 11.1 million pesos.
He also presented the following salient accomplishments in research namely:
- 17 publications,
- 202 paper presentations,
- 134 citations, and
- 20 intellectual property registrations,
In recognition of the commitment of DMMMSU personnel in helping realize our objectives in research and extension, as well as to encourage more to engage in research and extension activities, DMMMSU continues to provide incentives for their exemplary achievements where 3.1 million pesos was utilized for both cash and laptop incentives in 2020 and 2021.
What’s more, DMMMSU co-organized two international research conferences — one with Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (UNDIKSHA) in Indonesia and another with National University-Manila.
President Manuel also acknowledged leaders in research for their commendable work in outsourcing funds. As a result of their hardwork, DMMMSU was granted the total amount of 52.3 million pesos for both institutional development grant and research and development grant.
As for our accomplishments in extension, DMMMSU was able to implement 144 extension programs consistent with the SUC’s mandated and priority programs. Through these programs 32, 974 clientele were served, that is 322 percent higher than the targeted figure.
DMMMSU maintains 96 active partnerships with LGUs, industries, NGOs, NGAs, SMEs, and other stakeholders.
To learn more about DMMMSU’s accomplishments in research, please see here:
Infrastructure
As for infrastructure, DMMMSU spent the total amount of 517.16 million pesos for GAA funded projects from 2019 to 2021, and 61.999 million pesos for 2019-2021 GAA Funded Machine and Equipment Outlay.
From it own generated funds, DMMMSU spent 138.941 million pesos for infrastructure projects for 2019-2021.
President Manuel further highlighted DMMMSU’s performance in outsourcing funds for which DMMMSU received a total amount 130.3 million pesos.
In his speech, President Manuel expressed his gratitude to all benefactors whose love for and support of DMMMSU has made a huge difference.
To learn more about DMMMSU’s accomplishments in infrastructure, please see here:
DMMMSU in 2022
In the concluding part of his speech, President Manuel announced that for 2022, DMMMSU received fund allocation of333.145 million pesos for capital outlay from our 2022 GAA Funds. From that fund, 281 million will be used to fund the College of Medicine, and 32 million for water treatment facility.
“We are going to continue operationalizing the East La Union Campus which is to initially house the Institute Criminal Justice Education,” he continued.
He also mentioned about the University’s plan to implement limited face-to-face classes, which is first to be piloted in the College of Community Health and Allied Medical Sciences.
He further entreated all University personnel to support the University’s goal for Institutional Accreditation by AACCUP, Institutional Sustainability Assessment by CHED, and to earn stars under Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Rankings.
Humbly acknowledging that the University needs to do more, he went:
“As a University, we do not cease from dreaming as dreams motivate us to keep going, and encourage us to alleviate our current status. I am very much aware that our plans on quality assurance sound overwhelming to you but this is the only way we can keep our University on par with other Universities who have gone ahead in their quality assurance endeavors.”
“With our accomplishments in ISO certifications, PRIME-HR recognition, and our top awards in program accreditation, we have proven that we are capable of making these goals a reality; hence, I plead that you continue extending your support.”
“With our high intention, thoughtful planning, focused effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution, our vision to see obstacles as opportunities, and the synergy of all of you committed and dependable DMMMSU personnel, I am very sure we will transcend all forms of challenges and continue to make an impact in our ‘glocal’ community.”
Before he ended his speech, President Manuel also reminded DMMMSU personnel to continue to tap their defense, that is, to always keep their guard as they are exposed before an unseen enemy which yields them vulnerable.
“Let us continue to uphold all health and safety protocols to protect ourselves and our loved ones, and our community. Of course, we have our greater defense. We continue to seek God’s protection.”
“This pandemic has taught us to count our days and become more grateful for every second we could breathe. So let us continue to live every day as though it were our last– always being kind to people around us,” he concluded. (Ayu)