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DIGOS CITY — In preparation for the 2027 International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL) Conference, the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), 170+ Talaytayan MLE Inc., and Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) convened on October 28, 2026, to map out activities for the upcoming international event and explore a potential collaboration on a coffee laboratory.
Held at the DSSC Main Campus in Digos City, the strategic meeting was attended by Dr. Glyn B. Gabanao-Magbanua (USM Director for Extension Services), Mr. Bryan Lloyd P. Bretaña (USM Director for International Relations), Mr. Jimwell P. Pande (University Extension Specialist I), Mr. Antonio D. Igcalinos (170+ Talaytayan MLE Inc. President), and Dr. Augie E. Fuentes (DSSC President).
Prior to the meeting, the delegation toured DSSC’s Regional Coffee Innovation Center & Museum. As part of the center’s “seed-to-cup” experiential learning process, the delegates viewed historical coffee artifacts, observed advanced processing machinery in action, and participated in a specialized cupping and sensory evaluation of local coffee varieties.
Following the tour, the team discussed the key highlights and preparations for the anticipated 2027 IDIL International Conference to be hosted by USM. Concurrently, ESO Director Magbanua expressed USM’s interest in partnering with DSSC to establish a similar “seed-to-cup” coffee laboratory.
“This is something we look forward to in the coming years kasi hindi lamang dapat natin binibigyan ng trainings and seminars ang ating mga farmers sa USM; we have to connect them with the market and the whole farming ecosystem,” Dr. Magbanua stated.
(“This is something we look forward to in the coming years because we shouldn’t just provide trainings and seminars to our farmers at USM; we have to connect them with the market and the broader farming ecosystem.”)
With all parties aligning expectations for the 2027 IDIL Conference and exploring collaborative agricultural ventures, the university continues to build strategic inter-institutional linkages and foster sustainable community extension initiatives. This reinforces USM’s institutional commitment to advancing indigenous cultural preservation, regional innovation, and inclusive agricultural development.
