ViCARP steers shift to strategic R&D roadmap in Ormoc City

In today’s rapidly evolving landscape of local governance, where data-driven decisions and innovation define progress, the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Program (ViCARP), through Visayas State University, led Ormoc City in formulating a transformative, future-proof research and development (R&D) roadmap through a two-day Strategic Planning Workshop on March 18-19, 2026 that gathered 42 key officials, planners, and technical experts from one of Leyte’s fastest growing cities. 

Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez expressed full confidence to the ViCARP-VSU team to direct the city towards conceptualizing and actualizing this long-envisioned initiative. 

More than just a routine planning exercise, the workshop became a convergence point of ideas, expertise, and shared aspirations, anchored on a singular goal: to craft a responsive, strategic, and future-ready R&D roadmap for the city.

Through the guidance of ViCARP’s, the activity positioned R&D not merely as a technical function but as a central driver of governance, policy innovation, and community development.

Serving as both mentors and enablers, ViCARP’s resource persons guided participants through a structured and collaborative planning process, helping the city articulate its vision, mission, core values, and strategic goals while identifying priority Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs). 

Ormoc City representatives from key offices across agriculture, environment, health, education, social welfare, and economic development sectors contributed valuable insights, so that the strategic plan reflects the genuine needs and priorities of the community.

For the City Planning and Development Office, the importance of this exercise lies in making strategic choices amid limited resources. 

With ViCARP’s technical guidance, the city is now better positioned to prioritize high-impact initiatives and channel investments where they matter most, transforming R&D into a tool for smarter governance.

In his welcome message, Engr. Raul E. Cam, Head of the City Planning and Development Office, stressed that limited resources require a clear direction in R&D. 

“We cannot accommodate all requests for research and development, so this strategic planning helps us decide which projects to pursue, improve, or prioritize to maximize results and benefits for the city,” he said.

ViCARP Director and VSU Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovation Dr. Santiago T. Peña Jr. emphasized that research and development must go beyond documentation and lead to tangible outcomes. 

By helping organize Ormoc’s existing data, programs, and experiences into a coherent framework, ViCARP ensures that research efforts translate into better policies, stronger programs, and improved public services.

The workshop also introduced key strategic management tools, including visioning exercises and SWOT analysis, allowing participants to assess current capabilities, identify gaps, and craft responsive strategies. These sessions reinforced a critical principle: effective planning begins with a clear understanding of both present realities and future aspirations.

More importantly, the Strategic Plan was built through co-creation. Rather than a top-down approach, the process drew from the collective expertise of participating offices leading to foster ownership, accountability, and commitment for the actual implementation. This inclusive method strengthens the likelihood that the plan will not remain a document, but evolve into concrete, measurable action.

“When the academe and local government work in step, research becomes more grounded, and solutions become more responsive to the needs of the people,” VSU President and ViCARP-RRDCC Chairperson Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes said in a statement. 

As the workshop concluded, a unifying message emerged: the real work begins after planning. With ViCARP continuing to serve as a guiding partner to its member institution, Ormoc City now stands equipped with a strategic R&D roadmap that aligns innovation with governance and development goals.

In this partnership, ViCARP at the Visayas State University proves its role not just as a consortium, but as a catalyst, bridging knowledge and action, and helping local governments turn ambition into lasting impact.

This article is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities; SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

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