The University of Northern Philippines has formally renewed its partnership with Salindeg-Pong-ol Barraca Elementary School (SPBES) through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) held on April 10, 2025, at the UNP Guestel Boardroom. The collaboration continues the implementation of Project DUR-AS (Dagiti Ubbing Raemenda ti Adal ken Syensa), a community extension initiative focused on enhancing reading literacy among young learners.
Now on its third year, Project DUR-AS aims to improve the literacy levels of identified pupils by offering targeted support beyond traditional classroom instruction. Under the renewed agreement, the program will expand its scope over the next year to include not only reading interventions for pupils but also action research writing workshops for SPBES teachers.
UNP President Dr. Erwin Cadorna led the university delegation and emphasized the importance of early literacy intervention. He expressed his dedicated support for the renewal of the agreement. He further said that the reading literacy extension program to the elementary pupils is right and proper to address the problem at its root cause because these learners will become students at the university.
SPBES Principal Mrs. Azenith Ramos expressed gratitude for the continued collaboration. “We are grateful for this continued partnership. Our students have shown significant progress in their reading skills, and this program has given them greater confidence and motivation to learn,” she said.
Also present during the MOA signing were UNP Vice President for Research and Extension Dr. Fatima Rocamora, OIC Director of the University Extension Office Dr. Lloyd Mata, College of Teacher Education Dean Dr. Ma. Teresa Susan Manzano, extension coordinator Efren Galapon, BEED faculty members, and SPBES teachers.
Article by Jamelle Frances Realin and Fely De Guzman
