The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) forged several partnerships towards advancing sustainability and promoting collaboration across sectors during the International Forum on Sustainability Science (IFSS) 2025 held at Negros Residences, Bacolod City, Philippines, on 17 September 2025. UPOU formalized three significant collaborations that strengthen the link between academe, industry, government, and communities in the pursuit of circularity, renewability, and regenerative futures.
IFSS 2025 serves as a premier platform for multi-sectoral convergence on food systems transformation in the Philippines. Building on the success of its previous editions in 2015 and 2024, the forum deepens the conversation on sustainability by embracing circularity, renewability, and regeneration as guiding paradigms. Partnerships forged during IFSS 2025 highlight the urgent need for collective and systemic responses to current global and local challenges, recognizing that meaningful transformation toward sustainable and resilient food systems can only be achieved through cooperation across sectors.
First, UPOU and Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) sealed a partnership aimed at enhancing career readiness, fostering industry-academe engagement, and developing a workforce responsive to the needs of communities and the energy sector. The collaboration seeks to create avenues for professional growth, research cooperation, and sustainability-driven capacity-building initiatives.
Secondly, a tripartite partnership among UPOU, the Department of Science and Technology – Negros Island Region (DOST-NIR), and STI West Negros University was formalized for the conduct of the IFSS 2025 that brings together stakeholders from government, academe, industry, and civil society to explore solutions and pathways toward food systems transformation guided by the IFSS 2025’s theme of “Circularity, Renewability, and Regenerative Futures.”
In another partnership, UPOU, DOST-NIR, and the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) Visayas signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to strengthen collaboration among higher education institutions, government agencies, and local communities. The agreement underscores the role of multi-sectoral engagement in transforming food systems through research, education, and technology-driven interventions anchored in sustainability principles.
The principal signatories to the agreements included Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Chancellor of UPOU. Engr. Bernard Bailey R. Del Castillo, Chief Technical Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Negros Electric and Power Corporation, signed on behalf of Mr. Roel Z. Castro, President and CEO. The second tripartite signing was signed by Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga, Officer-in-Charge and Regional Director of DOST-NIR represented by Dr. Naomi Cosette R. Luis, DIT, OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations, DOST-NIR, and Dr. Ryan Mark S. Molina, President of STI West Negros University. For the third signing, Engr. Reynaldo P. Ramos, PhD, EnP, President of the Technological University of the Philippines joined as the principal signatory.
The signing ceremony was also witnessed by Dr. Finaflor F. Taylan, Dean of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), UPOU; Engr. Eric A. Malo-oy, PhD, Campus Director of TUP Visayas; and Dr. Hasmin T. Ignacio, EdD, Vice President for Research and Extension of TUP.
Through these partnerships and the collective efforts, UPOU addresses Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Written by Dona Lyn M. Piamonte • Edited by Larry N. Cruz
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