Banga, Aklan – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) granted the Aklan State University (ASU) permit to operate a Review Center for Teacher Education Program with Permit Number 012, series of 2008 effective February 11, 2008.

The permit is in accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994” and Executive Order No. 566, directing the CHED to regulate the establishment and operation of review centers and similar entities and pursuant to CHED En Banc Resolution No. 056-2008.

The Permit to Operate a Review Center is valid only for four (4) years and shall be subject to revocation if the University fails to operate in accordance with the CHED Memorandum Order No. 30, s. 2007 entitled “Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations Governing the Establishment and Operation of Review Centers and Similar Entities in the Philippines pursuant to Executive Order No. 566.” Further, the Permit shall entitle the University to operate an off-campus center in any part of the country provided all the requirements under aforesaid CMO are fully complied with and after proper evaluation is made by the CHED Regional Office where the off-campus center is located.

According to Dr. Edna I. Gonzales, Dean of the ASU-College of Teacher Education, the schedule of review for the Licensure Examination for Teachers are as follows: May 5-30, 2008 from Monday to Friday and June to August every Saturday. Pre-board exam will be on August 9, 2008. Application starts March 10 to April 28, 2008. For more details please contact the Office of the Dean at telephone no. (036) 267-6813.

Banga, Aklan – The President of Aklan State University, Dr. Benny A. Palma, was recently appointed member of one of the six technical panels of the Congressional Commission on Science and Technology, and Engineering (COMSTE).

Dr. Palma has joined the Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education Panel. The other expert panels comprising the technical advisory board of COMSTE are composed of outstanding academe and industry experts, which include the: (a) IT and IT-enabled Industries; (b) Electronics and Semiconductor Industry; (c) Health Sciences; (d) Agriculture and Food; and (f) Energy and Environment.

COMSTE was created through a joint resolution authored by Senator Edgardo J. Angara, which became a law when it was signed by President Arroyo on the Thirteenth Congress.

COMSTE will review and assess the state of competitiveness of science and technology and engineering research and development sector in the Philippines, and will provide recommendations on harnessing these sectors to make the country more competitive. It will also undertake a thorough review of science education in public and private schools, particularly at the graduate level. COMSTE would review or even overhaul the educational system to encourage students to go into science, technology and engineering.

COMSTE is composed of five senators and five congressmen, Chaired by Sen. Angara and Co-chaired by Rep. Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, together with the government and private agencies for assistance.

BANGA, Aklan – The Aklan State University (ASU) received a trophy and cash prize being the lead implementing agency of the project “Establishment and Sustainability of Farmer-Teachers in the Agrarian Reform Communities in the Province of Aklan” as Third Prize Winner of the CY 2006-2007 Best Public Sector Projects Awards under the state universities and colleges category.

The awarding ceremonies was held on April 18, 2008 at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City. It was the Second Regional Development Council VI Awards recognizing Local Government Units, Regional Line Agencies and State Universities and Colleges that have implemented projects to address the development agenda of the region. It is in partnership with the Canadian Urban Institute Urban Partnerships Program Philippines, German Technical Cooperation Decentralization Program and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Iloilo City. During the awarding ceremonies, the University was represented by its President, Dr. Benny A. Palma and the Project Leader and Director of Extension and Community Services, Dr. Anna Mae C. Relingo. Likewise, the Project Team Members, Dr. Evelyn P. Vedasto and Dr. Lelisa J. Teodosio and Altavas Municipal Agriculturist, Mrs. Mila J. Andrade were present.

The Project was presented during the awarding ceremonies by the Farmer-Teacher himself, Mr. Pio Baconawa from Barangay Talon, Altavas, Aklan.

The FT Project was conceived and implemented by the University in partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform, Agricultural Training Institute and Local Government Units to transform agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) into a new breed of Filipino farmer-entrepreneurs who are productive enough to sustain employment, livelihood and rural welfare. It is a means to transfer agricultural technologies to the farmers under the principle of “learning by doing”. It is based on the belief that the commitment to alleviate the life of the poor should be complemented by alternative sustainable income generation activities utilizing appropriate local resources and area specific technologies.

The trained, developed and sustained ARBs, were effective partners in the development and promotion of agricultural technologies. Consequently, they served as models of a new breed of empowered farmer-entrepreneurs and as active partners in the socio-economic development of the countryside.

The FT project was pilot tested in five (5) municipalities in the Province of Aklan, namely: Altavas, Madalag, Malinao, Makato and Ibajay. It includes training of farmer-teachers, establishment and maintenance of their respective demonstration farms as venue for hands-on training of their fellow farmers on High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) Production with technical assistance from the ASU Field Instructor, Agricultural Technologist from the LGUs and Development Facilitator of the Department of Agrarian Reform, who compose the FT Team in every pilot municipality. The FT project enabled the communities to understand the practical problems of the farming community and the measures necessary to address these problems, which ultimately led to the development of a need-based, location specific package of technologies.