Director Roger Ray Manzano of the Extension and Community Services of Carlos Hilado Memorial State University was recently elected as the chairperson of the Extension Managers’ Council, the new governing body for extension programs of state and local universities and colleges in Negros Island Region (Region 18).
The extension managers in NIR voted Dir. Manzano during the election of officers on March 13, 2025, which was concurrently held with the first quarter meeting of the Regional Association of State Colleges and Universities (RASUC) VI—Extension Managers’ Council, Inc., and training-workshop of Siquijor State College titled “Optimizing Extension Services: Building Bridges to University Status for Siquijor State College”.
Dir. Manzano said that the EMC for NIR, will be the first council in the Visayas that has both memberships from state and LGU-managed universities and colleges.
“This new council’s innovation comes with extending memberships to local universities and colleges, which will improve research-based extension programs in Region 18,” the CHMSU ECS director said.
The member state universities and colleges (SUCs) are Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU), Central Philippines State University (CPSU), Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), Philippine Normal University – Visayas (PNU-V), State University of Northern Negros (SUNN), Siquijor State College (SCC), and Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas (TUP-V).
Bacolod City College (BCC), Bago City College (BCC), La Carlota City College (LCCC), and Colegio de La Castellana (CLC) are also joining from the local universities and colleges (LUCs) in the region.
The Council aims to foster collaboration among SUCs and LUCs in Region 18 to improve research-based extension programs; to identify and document best practices in extension services while pinpointing areas for improvement to contribute to effective extension guidelines; and to facilitate the sharing of results from extension research studies among faculty extensionists.
The council shall perform the following functions: conduct presentations and critique sessions for extension research proposals; plan capacity-building activities aimed at strengthening the competencies of extensionists; and organize workshops focused on documenting and packaging best community extension services practices.
Next steps
The council is set to finalize its memorandum of understanding to be signed by all members and the constitution and bylaws, and registration to the Securities and Exchange Commission within the year, Manzano added.
While the council has yet to arrive with the official name of the organization, he said, the 11 members will review and sign the memorandum soon.
Through the establishment of the council, Manzano said they can identify and document best practices in extension services while pinpointing areas for improvement to contribute to effective extension guidelines.
The network of SUCs and LUCs will help facilitate the sharing of results from extension research studies among faculty extensionists.
Joining Manzano in the council are vice chairperson Dr. Guilbert Nicanor Atillo of NORSU, secretary Dr. Philna S. Palongpalong of SCC, auditor Dr. Vanessa T. Cayacay of the SUNN, treasurer Lemuel C. Solomon, MAEd of LCCC, business manager Dr. Jimmy O. Degillo of CPSU, public information officers Engr. Joevel Young, MT of TUP-V and Paul A. Magbanua, MAEd of PNU-V. Dr. Zherry Antoinette P. Jacela of CLC, Daniel L. Sanchez, MSCJ-CRIM of Bago City College, and Jane T. Alunan, LPT of Bacolod City College were also elected as board of directors.
Extension services workshop
On March 13-14, 2025, Dir. Manzano was invited as one of the speakers for the Optimizing Extension Services workshop organized by SCC held at the college’s Convention Center in Larena, Siquijor.
He discussed the Program Expenditure Classification (PREXC) for Technical Advisory Extension Programs); PASUC Advisory No. 16 s.2024 on Draft Guidelines for SUC Leveling (KRA 4 – Extension Services); DBM-CHED Joint Circular No. 3, s.2022 – Guidelines on Faculty Reclassification (KRA III – Extension Services); and Understanding Extension Mangers Council (EMC) for Negros Island Region (Region 18) during day one.
Manzano was accompanied by Extension Director Ricky Becodo of West Visayas State University and chairperson of the PASUC 6 EMC, Inc.
Becodo discussed “Strengthening the Relationship between Research and Extension”; “Technology Packaging and Transfer in Extension”; and “Crucial Factors for Sustainable Projects”.
