[From left to right: Xavier University - College of Agriculture Dean Dr Maria Rosario Mosqueda, Xavier Science Foundation executive director Roel Ravanera, XU President Fr Roberto "Bobby" C Yap SJ, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-Region 10) regional director Atty Rene K Burdeos and Department of Science and Technology (DOST-Region 10) regional director Alfonso Alamban. Photo by XU Communications Office]
By Stephen J Pedroza
Xavier University, Xavier Science Foundation (XSF), Institute of Land Governance (ILG), XU – College of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) converged on March 13 during the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the Participatory GIS-based Zoning Course aimed at capacitating emergent leaders towards sustainable land use in Northern Mindanao.
The Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Zoning Course is a two-week intensive program “geared towards the enhancement of knowledge, awareness and basic skills of development professional on participatory land use zoning to propel rural local government units (LGUs) and communities to respond to better land use planning, management needs and demands.”
Supported by the International Land Coalition (ILC), the program specifically calls for participants from the LGUs, civil society organizations (CSOs), religious groups and academic institutions.
“We wanted to partner with the DILG because we believe that many of our LGUs will be benefitting from this,” said Roel Ravanera, executive director of XSF, on encouraging public servants of Region 10 to enlist in the said zoning course. XSF is a Cagayan de Oro-based non-government organization focusing on agricultural research and development.
Together with DILG regional director Atty Rene K Burdeos who expressed his gratitude for being one of the major partners for this project, the GIS-based training has also earned the support of DOST-X.
“For the DOST side, we are pushing for science and technology as key towards local competitiveness and sustainability, and GIS is part of the mechanism we have been supporting,” said DOST regional director Alfonso Alamban.
GIS is “a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of spatial or geographical data. It also refers to the academic discipline or career of working with Geoinformatics.”
An expert on GIS, Engr Mark Alexis Sabines from XU - College of Agriculture, will be leading the pool of instructors from various fields for the curriculum of this intensive course next month.
The sessions will be held from April 13 to 24 at XU - Southeast Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute (SEARSOLIN) in Fr William Masterson Avenue, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.
“We are glad that the College of Agriculture is part of this XSF’s project. Our GIS laboratory has been at the forefront in Cagayan de Oro City,” said Dr Maria Rosario Mosqueda, XUCA dean.
The GIS maps of CDO produced at the GIS laboratory of XU since 2006 were widely used as evidence and foundation for crafting disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) programs and policies in the region.
“This project is also about managing land use and not just about zoning. It is really a challenge in this country and we are chipping in to look for solutions for land use concerns,” shared XU president Fr Roberto “Bobby” C Yap SJ on the importance of capacity building for leaders of different sectors.
ILG, which was established by XSF and launched on March 27, 2014 at XU, aims to engage stakeholders in sustainable land use and resource management as it serves as a resource center undertaking research, offering degree courses, and implementing field projects.
The deadline for submission of application is on April 1. You may download the application forms here. For inquiries, you may contact the Institute of Land Governance through (088) 858-3116 local 2054 and /or 0926-9439-017. Email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..