USM hosts Training-Workshop on Harmonization of Socioeconomic Assessment Protocol for Communities in Different Water Bodies

The University of Southern Mindanao hosted the ‘Training-Workshop on Harmonization of Socioeconomic Assessment Protocol for Communities in Different Water Bodies’ as part of the project titled ‘Assessment and Characterization of Water Quality, Inland Capture Fisheries, Watershed, and SocioEconomic of Important Water Bodies for Social and Economic Transformation in Central Mindanao’, held on March 25-26, 2024, at the USM Commercial Building.

Director of Research and Development, Dr. Lydia C. Pascual, discussed the overview of the training-workshop, highlighting the role of people in the academia. “Tayo ang nasa universities at tayo ang inaasahan ng mga tao sa ating mga komunidad. ‘Yan ang dapat nating gawin, to give back to the communities where we belong. Since we are in the academe, we are the source of knowledge.”

Under the ‘Socio-Economic Analysis’ component of the project, the objectives include conducting household surveys and interviews with local communities to gather socio-economic data; assessing livelihood activities, income sources, and the dependency of communities on the water bodies and watersheds; identifying socio-economic challenges, such as poverty, unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to services; and exploring opportunities for sustainable development, including alternative livelihood options, community-based initiatives, and capacity-building programs.

Roy B. Gacus, head of the Socioeconomic Research Division-USMARDC, provided an overview of socio-economic assessment and its importance. He also presented the assessment methods and examples of socio-economic research studies to explore further various angles in research studies.

In the afternoon session, Assistant Professor Metche Anne C. Logronio, Department Chairperson, Agricultural Economics Department, elaborately explained the ‘Different Sampling Techniques’.

Further, Dr. Romiel John P. Basan, Project Staff for Socioeconomic Assessment, underscored the significance of ‘Data Analysis for Socioeconomic Data’ in conceptualizing a standard protocol for the project, emphasizing the need to ‘make the data talk.’

With the aim of the research to provide a comprehensive assessment and characterization of the crucial water bodies in Central Mindanao to gather scientific data and information, the 2-day workshop training will ensure an extensive and efficient research effort that recognizes the potential of the main water bodies in Central Mindanao to serve as drivers for social and economic transformation in the region.

Among the major water bodies in the region are Liguasan Marsh, Lake Buluan, Lake Sebu, Rio Grande de Mindanao, Allah River, and Pulangi River.

Implementing agencies include Mindanao State University (MSU-Maguindanao), Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU), Cotabato State University (CotSU), Adiong Memorial State College in Ditsaan-Ramain, Lanao del Sur, South Cotabato State College (SCSC), Mindanao State University (MSU-Gensan), University of Southern Mindanao (USM-Kabacan), University of Southern Mindanao (USM-KCC), and Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST).