The College of Agriculture of Sorsogon State University (SorSU)–Castilla Campus took part in the 6th International Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development Conference (iPovCon) 2025 as one of the newly recognized institutional partners. The two-day international conference, held from October 8–9, 2025 at Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) in Naval, Biliran, was hosted by Samar State University (SSU) in partnership with BiPSU and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDevR08).
Representing the College of Agriculture were Ms. Mari Anne B. Gojar and Mr. Brian Gabriel J. Buenaobra, who actively participated in the Sustainability, Governance, and Food Security subtrack. Ms. Gojar presented her paper titled “Agri-Fisheries Extension Resources and Capabilities Assessment in the Municipality of Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon, Philippines,” co-authored with Ms. Mary Ann P. Caro and Ms. Ira M. Habla. Meanwhile, Mr. Buenaobra presented his study “NDVI-Based Temporal Analysis of Greenspaces in Sorsogon City, Philippines,” which examined urban sustainability trends using remote sensing and GIS-based vegetation indices.
Joining them were fellow SorSU faculty members from the Sorsogon City Campus, namely Dr. Aaron A. Funa, Prof. Renz Alvin E. Gabay, Prof. Marco Espina, Dr. Susan F. Astillero, and Dr. Jordan M. Pocaan, who also presented their respective research works in various thematic tracks of the conference.
Notably, Prof. Renz Alvin E. Gabay was recognized as the Best Paper Presenter under Track 1A: Digital Transformation and Innovation in Education, bringing pride and honor to SorSU’s research community.
Through this participation, SorSU continues to strengthen its role as a leading academic institution committed to research excellence, innovation, and sustainable development. The conference further fostered collaboration among higher education institutions (HEIs), government agencies, and development partners toward achieving shared goals of poverty reduction, environmental stewardship, and equitable growth.
The event aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)—reflecting SorSU’s unwavering commitment to driving transformative change through education, research, and community engagement.
The presenters also expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support of University President Dr. Geraldine F. De Jesus, Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training Dr. Ryan V. Dio, and the entire SorSU administration, whose leadership and encouragement continue to inspire the pursuit of academic excellence and impactful research.
