With a spirit of continuity and renewed commitment, the Philippine Consortium for Science, Mathematics, and Technology (PCSMT) chairmanship was officially turned over to the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) in a ceremony held on April 4, 2025 at the UNP Gymnasium in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. The event marked the end of the term of chairmanship of Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) under outgoing Chairperson Dr. Christine N. Ferrer and the beginning of UNP’s stewardship with President Dr. Erwin F. Cadorna accepting the leadership.
Dr. Fatima F. Rocamora, Vice President for Research and Extension of UNP officially opened the ceremony by acknowledging the collaborative efforts that have shaped PCSMT’s growth and expressing optimism for its continued progress under the leadership of Dr. Cadorna.
Dr. Ferrer, in her report of accomplishments, highlighted the consortium’s many milestones over the past two years. These include amending portions of the PCSMT Constitution and By-Laws, expanding membership by inviting 20 state universities and colleges across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and increasing the number of faculty and student members. ISPSC also spearheaded a series of council and secretariat meetings held across the country—from Tarlac to Kalinga, Pampanga, Sultan Kudarat, and Palawan—showcasing the consortium’s commitment to nationwide engagement and collaboration.
Dr. Ferrer also underscored the success of key academic events such as the PCSMT Student Chapter Webinar Series on sustainability and innovation, the 2024 Science and Technology Youth Leadership Encampment (STYLE) hosted by Cavite State University, and the PCSMT Advocacy Webinar on Intellectual Property Rights organized by Laguna State Polytechnic University. These accomplishments, Dr. Ferrer emphasized, were aligned with PCSMT’s mission to promote excellence in instruction, research, and extension and to sustain inter-institutional linkages and innovation.
With these achievements underscoring ISPSC’s tenure, the ceremony then transitioned to the symbolic handover of leadership. This was marked by the formal transfer of the PCSMT Key of Responsibility from Dr. Ferrer and ISPSC President Dr. Mario P. Obrero to Dr. Cadorna, who accepted the chairmanship with humility and firm commitment to continuing the consortium’s mission.
