Mr. Lomel Q. Abarquez, instructor of VSU’s Institute of Human Kinetics (IHK) and at the same time dance master and choreographer of the VSU Folkloric Dance Troupe, participated in the National Folk Dance Workshop on May 18-22, 2015 at the Vigan City Convention Center, City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Miss Sara Osouchova, an undergraduate student of Masaryk University in Czech Republic taking up Finance, is now at the Visayas State University for a 10-month study as a Special Exchange Student of the BS in Economics program from June 2015 until March 2016. 

The University Student Services Office (USSO) under the leadership of Engr. Manolo B. Loreto, Jr., Dean of Students, conducted the New Students’ Orientation Program during the first day of opening of classes for School Year 2015-2016 on June 8, 2015 at the VSU Gymnatorium.  The activity kicked-off with a parade of the new students who were grouped, accordingly, by college from the VSU mall where the arch with a “Welcome New Students” signage was located at the corner of the road going to the gymnatorium.  The students were acknowledged and applauded by the respective colleges where they belong as they entered the gym.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, VP for Instruction, said that he was so overwhelmed with the big number of students present during the orientation program.  He emphasized to them that they made the right choice in choosing the Visayas State University as the university where they will earn their respective degrees four to five years from now.   Likewise, the deans of the different colleges were introduced who, later on, also did the introduction of various department heads in their respective colleges.

The orientation program enabled the new freshmen and transferee students to know the VSU vision, mission, goals, and objectives as well as the core values and attributes of VSU graduates; academic standards and policies; University student services; library services; students’ rights; medical services; and general campus rules.

A session had also been allotted wherein the new students had the chance to meet new friends during the Getting to Know You portion with a group dynamics and campus walk facilitated by the USSO staff, College/University Supreme Student Councils, and the Peer Facilitators.  JFMBaldos

After complying with all the requirements necessary to avail of the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI), the employees of the Visayas State University System under the administration of Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, University President, who are occupying regular, contractual, and casual positions received on June 4, 2015 their PEI equivalent to an employee’s one-month salary. 

According to Dr. Lourdes B. Cano, VSU’s Director for Administration and Human Resource Development, VSU was the first to receive the productivity bonus among the state colleges and universities as well as other government agencies in the whole Region 8 per information from the Department of Budget and Management of Region 8.

The Executive Order 181 or the Performance Enhancement Incentive for government employees was signed on May 15, 2015 by President Benigno S. Aquino III as part of his administration’s drive to strengthen public service within the Philippine bureaucracy to be distributed not earlier than June 1, 2015. 

However, E. O. 181 provides that the one-month salary productivity incentive shall only be given once the agency or department could have achieved 90 percent of its 2014 targets, specifically with respect to at least two performance indicators for at least one Major Final Output as reflected in the agency’s SPMS.  The agency should also have posted the Transparency Seal and their respective Citizen’s Charter on their websites.  Otherwise, its employee will only receive a fixed amount of only PhP5,000 as his/her PEI if the agency cannot fulfill any of the above requirements.

Moreover, the PEI does not cover individuals hired by the government without an employer-employee relationship. This includes consultants, laborers hired through job contracts, job orders, or contracts of service, and student laborers and apprentices. 

Dr. Othello B. Capuno, Vice President for Research and Extension and Director of the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Program (VICARP), has been chosen as this year’s Pantas Awardee for the Most Outstanding Research Administrator by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD). The award includes a PhP300,000 cash prize and a trophy which will be given during the PCAARRD awarding ceremonies on June 22, 2015 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

The administrative staff from the different offices and research centers of VSU System gathered on May 22, 2015 for the Administrative Personnel Association (ADPA) General Assembly at the VSU Convention Hall. It was presided over by Atty. Rysan C. Guinocor, the Chairman of the Association.

Dr. Elwin Jay V. Yu, in his welcome remarks, said that the General Assembly was conducted to give some updates to the members of what is happening within the ranks and what are the things that the association is doing. The assembly also enabled the Board of Directors to report their accomplishments and served as a venue to ventilate whatever issues and problems the members want to discuss.      

On the other hand, Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, in his inspirational message on behalf of VSU President, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, pointed out that the general assembly is important because it is the venue to understand all about the association. “It is a fact that VSU ADPA is an integral part of the University. Without it, the University cannot really function,” Dr. Tulin stressed.  He added that being an integral part of the University, the administrative personnel must do their tasks and individual responsibilities with passion and integrity. He also pointed out that the role of the administrative personnel is important because, together, they move forward with the faculty and students.     

The Association’s objective is to promote, uphold and defend the inherent and fundamental rights of the members including the right to organize and engage in concerted activities and participate in policy-making process in the University, develop the highest degree of professionalism as the basic policy for every member to observe in the exercise of his/her duties and responsibilities, promote the professional growth of its members in line with his/her duties and responsibilities, strive for the re-orientation of the operations as well as other services of the University to improve the quality of service rendered to the people, secure better terms and working conditions for its members not fixed by law, and establish linkage with other  similar organizations at the provincial, regional, and national levels. SMCLemos

As the School Year 2015-2016 commences, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President, warmly welcomed the more than 2,000 new college students and more than a hundred high school freshmen (Grade VII) of the Visayas State University during the New Students’ Welcome and Orientation Program on June 8, 2015 at the overflowing VSU Gymnatorium.