USM GREAT Scholars Win Awards at 5th DPGAA Biennial Convention
November 27, 2025
Faculty members from the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) joined scholars, practitioners, and human ecology experts from the Philippines and abroad during the International Conference on Social Development and Sustainability, held alongside the Philippine Human Ecology Consortium (PHEC) Conference 2025 on November 18 – 19, 2025, at the Farmers Training Center, Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon.
The conference carried the theme “Social Development and Sustainability for Human-Ecological Well-being,” and featured plenary sessions, parallel presentations, as well as organized sessions that showcased research, extension work, and community-based programs.
These activities were grouped under five subthemes:
(1) Social Innovations and Technologies for Well-being;
(2) Collaborative Climate Action and Disaster Risk Management;
(3) Decent Work, Ecocultural Livelihoods, and Inclusive Tourism;
(4) Social and Ecological Determinants of Health; and
(5) Food and Nutrition Systems for Human-Ecological Well-being.
From the USM Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy (DSSP), Dr. Erwin A. Mallo and Prof. Bryan Paul Tumlad presented research papers, while Prof. Maricar Juaneza took part as a member of the organized sessions for roundtable discussions. Juaneza also shared that DSSP has begun coordinating with UPLB for possible joint activities and expressed interest in hosting future PHEC-related conferences at USM.
Prof. Jmjson C. Bautista, Prof. Rubelyn V. Gamolo, Prof. Avegale S. Roy, Prof. Aileen P. Sarmiento, Prof. Urduja G. Nacar, Prof. John Stephen Ramos, Prof. Ruby Marc B. Nonesa, Prof. Meldred F. Samblaceño, Prof. Rosyell Angelo Piosca, Prof. Maribelle T. Piamonte, and Prof. Monique T. Camaddo, were the representatives from the College of Human Ecology and Food Sciences (CHEFS). Dr. Samblaceño presented a paper based on their extension project.
Dr. Urduja Nacar, the Dean of CHEFS, said that attending the conference helped them see where they can contribute as members of the consortium.
“We attended the conference not only as members but also to understand how we can contribute to the Philippine Human Ecology Consortium locally and internationally,” she said.
She added that the experience made them realize the amount of work already being done in their respective programs and how these efforts can still grow through continued collaboration with communities and partner institutions.
“We realized that we have already done so much in our respective programs, and that there is still more we can contribute through collaboration for improved quality of life and development,” she added.
Dr. Sue L. T. McGregor, Professor Emerita of Human Ecology at Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada was one of the plenary speakers. She discussed how human ecological well-being can improve when social development and sustainability work hand in hand with economic and human development. She explained the value of looking at issues through a systems-oriented approach.
The event received support from the Department of Science and Technology Region IV-A, Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc., the Philippine National Oil Company – Exploration Corporation, and the Tan Yan Kee Foundation Inc., with HUMEIN Philippines Inc. and the Department of the Interior and Local Government Academy as partners.
The program was organized with the support of the University of the Philippines Los Baños – College of Human Ecology.
