Aligning Voices, Shaping the Future: VSU launches CO-LAB 2027

Marking a milestone for the university, CO-LAB 2027 is the first time that a structured and participatory budgeting process was institutionalized at VSU. The initiative underscores the administration’s strong commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and strategic alignment, ensuring that diverse voices across the university community are not only heard but meaningfully integrated into fiscal decision-making.

CO-LAB is a structured decision-making process designed to turn dialogue into action. At its core, it ensures that limited resources are directed toward high-impact initiatives that matter most to the university and the communities that it serves.

During his welcome address, Dr. Glenn G. Pajares, VP for Planning and Development, reaffirmed the administration's effort in championing cooperation and accountability. 

"Governance is most effective when it is democratic, participatory, transparent, and accountable. Together we can ensure that Fiscal Year 2027 will not only be a year of projects and programs but a year of meaningful impacts for our students, faculty, and the wider Viscan community," he noted.

VSU President, Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes also stated how CO-LAB will define the university's strategic priorities.

"The priorities that we have previously established need to be re-prioritized, and this time around, it has to include all of you,” she added.

The event is not just a budgeting exercise; it translated shared governance into a clear, funding-ready portfolio of projects. The process brings together leadership and stakeholders to agree on priorities that are aligned and consistent with national as well as regional development directions, including the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, Ambisyon 2040, the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan 2023–2028, VSU’s Strategic Plan and Execution Continuum for FY 2025–2028, the VSU Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan 2025–2034, and the Commission on Higher Education’s ACHIEVE Agenda.

The assembly served as a platform for consultation, trade-off analysis, and consensus-building, paving the way for shared accountability in budgeting. It gave the participants a safe and practical space to openly discuss budget constraints, risks, and competing priorities, while keeping sight of the VSU’s long-term goals and direction.

Throughout the activity, the participants were guided by several key objectives: These included the presentation of major considerations in budget review and endorsement by Regional Development Council VIII and Department of Budget and Management VIII, as well as an overview of the scope and coverage of Tier 1 and Tier 2 budget proposals for FY 2027. Proposed projects and initiatives were identified and reviewed, with participants applying agreed-upon criteria to assess their readiness and impact.

Before the stakeholders'  dialogues came to a close, the participants were expected to produce a ranked and agreed-upon portfolio of FY 2027 projects ready for funding submission and implementation. 

On behalf of VP for Administration and Finance, Dr. Moises Neil V. Seriño, Finance Director Louella C. Ampac reiterated the importance of shared accountability.

"This activity reminds us that effective leadership is not done in isolation but through partnership, consultation, and shared accountability. Let us continue fostering open communication, mutual respect, and strong stakeholder engagement. The success of our institution depends on how well we work together, align our goals, and translate our plans into concrete results,” she concluded.

Through CO-LAB 2027, VSU once again demonstrated that meaningful collaboration with its stakeholders is key to building a clear, coherent, and forward-looking path for the university’s future—one that is transparent in process, inclusive in participation, and firmly aligned with its strategic vision.

This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for Goals.