Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Matalom signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Phase 2 implementation of the Biodiversity Enhancement and Sustainable Solutions for Local Development (BESOLD) Extension Program on January 24, 2026, at Brgy. San Pedro, Matalom, Leyte.
The event, personally attended by Hon. Mayor Elvira A. Pajulio of LGU Matalom, marks the continuation of collaborative efforts between the university and the municipality in promoting environmental protection and sustainable community practices.
Mayor Pajulio, now in her first term, expressed her firm support for the BESOLD Program and its advocacy for environmental protection and sustainability in the municipality of Matalom. She affirmed LGU’s commitment to collaborative, research, and community-based solutions for the welfare of her constituents.
Representing the university at the event were Dr. Rose Anna L. Refuerzo, Dean of the School of Accountancy, Management and Entrepreneurship; Dr. Pearl Aphrodite B. Carnice, BESOLD Project Leader; and team members Dr. Severo L. Blanco II and Prof. Giselle Janna Joyce M. Morcilla. Students from the Graduate School’s Master’s in Public Resource Management (MPRM) program also co-organized the activity, underscoring the university’s commitment to experiential and community-engaged learning.
As part of the Year 2 rollout, Gianne Carlo Reyes, an MPRM student of EVSU, delivered a talk on Community Awareness on Environmental Management. The team outlined the proposed action plan for community environmental management. The plans include short- and long-term actions, such as conducting monthly clean-up drives and composting projects at the barangay level and implementing strict waste segregation in households. Residents of Brgy. San Pedro participated in the said lecture.
The program builds on the success of its first year, which culminated on December 12–13, 2025, at Jubilee Cross Hill (JCH), Barangay San Juan, Matalom, Leyte. For 2026–2027, BESOLD will focus on community awareness and environmental campaigns.
This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 04: Quality Education; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 15: Life on Land; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
