The Visayas State University served as the venue for the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) core members of the Visayas Council of Human Resource Management Practitioners (VCHRMPs) on January 21-23, 2015 at the VSU Pavilion.  Facilitated by Dr. Lourdes B. Cano, VSU’s Director for Administration and Human Resource Development who is also the VCHRMP Interim President, the activity sought to pave the way for the revival and operationalization of Visayas Council of HRMPs; come up with the Council’s Constitution and By-Laws, strategic plan, work and financial plan; and iron out plans in preparation for the Visayas Congress of HRMPs which will be held at VSU. 

In his message during the opening program, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President, mentioned that despite the fewer number of participants [maybe because of the recent typhoon “Amang”] who came all the way from Siquijor, Danao, Bohol, and Maasin, he was elated by their presence since it manifests their commitment to the Council.  He wished that the participants would have a worthwhile experience and enjoyable stay at the campus during the next two days of the activity.

Aside from the brainstorming sessions, the participants were acquainted with VSU’s best practices on PRIME-HRM and operationalization of the University Strategic Performance Management System which they can emulate.

With Dr. Cano as the Interim President of the VCHRMP, the other participants included: Ms. Josephine S. Resus, Division Manager of Maasin Water District; Ms. Rinelyn S. Onac, HRMO III of Bilar, Bohol; Ms. Dana Vanissa M. Canson, OIC-HRMO of LGU-Danao City; and Ms. Pilar M. Cabanlas, HRMO IV of the Province of Siquijor.  JFMBaldos

Nine officials of the Municipality of Basilisa, Province of Dinagat Islands of Caraga Administrative Region (Region XIII) headed by Vice Mayor Jacinto E. Daganasol, visited the Visayas State University on January 15, 2015.  The group was warmly welcomed by Prof. Alan B. Loreto, Executive Officer of VSU, who oriented the guests on the different programs and services offered by the University.  Likewise, the plan to engage into a Memorandum of Agreement between VSU and the Local Government Unit of Basilisa has been considered to strengthen the linkage and cooperation by the two parties.

Anica Georgia C. Cari, a Grade VI pupil of the ViSCA Foundation Elementary School (VFES), bagged the gold medal in the Lawn Tennis for Elementary Girls-Singles during the 2015 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet.  Anchored on the theme “One Race, One Goal, One Victory”, this year’s sports joust was held on February 1-7, 2015 at the Baybay City Sports Complex and in other venues of the city. 

The Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance (OVPAF) under the leadership of Dr. Roberto C. Guarte conducted the 2015 Budget Review on January 21, 2015 at the OVPAF Conference Room. The one-day activity aimed to review financial allocations and how to utilize them. 

Atty. Roman T. Romulo, Congressman of the Lone District of Pasig and Chairman of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the House of Representatives, had a Press Conference in the evening of January 31, 2014 at the Guesthouse of the Visayas State University.  In front of the media practitioners from GMA 7, EV Mail, DYDC-FM, and VSU Information Office, Cong. Romulo explained in detail the three Bills that he passed and signed into Law in December 2014 that would surely benefit the Filipino people.  He appealed for a wider dissemination of the Bills among the media people.

The Visayas State University (VSU), through the Information Office, responded positively to the request of 1Lt. Jonathan R. Mayono (INF) PA, Commanding Officer of the Alpha Company, 78^th Infantry (Warrior) Battalion, 8^th Infantry (Storm Trooper) Division of the Philippine Army based in Sitio Wangag, Barangay Damulaan, Albuera, Leyte, for a seminar on Gender and Development.   The Information Office staff contacted the Gender and Development (GAD) Coordinator of the University and accommodated the request of the said seminar.

The College of Nursing conducted on January 6, 2015 an Ebola Virus Disease Awareness Forum at the VSU Convention Center.  It was attended by VSU faculty, staff and students.  The forum sought to describe the characteristics of Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF), understand the risk in the locality of the current Ebola case, identify preventive measures to avoid spread, and follow protocols to minimize spread of virus.

Mr. Roderick R. Labicane, a clinical instructor and also a registered nurse, explained that countries in the West African Region have been affected by an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, a disease caused by a Ribonucleic Acid(RNA) virus, characterized by fever and bleeding which took thousands of lives, including hundreds of health workers taking care of infected persons.

He stressed that there is no established cure for Ebola Virus Disease, but patients can be managed with supportive therapy with fluid management, pain reliever, antipyretic, generic antibiotics, anti-malarial, and other treatments based on symptoms of the patient.  Also, he enumerated that the three categories of Ebola Virus Disease are suspected case, confirmed case, and contact case.

Further, Mr. Labicane conveyed that communities affected by Ebola should make efforts to ensure that the population is well-informed about Ebola, report any suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease to the nearest health facility, and isolate suspected cases of Ebola from other people. SMCLemos