The Thomasians Society of Development Professionals (TSDP), the first student organization of the UST Graduate School, initiated a community immersion entitled "Development Clinic" which conducted initial assessments of development issues and also conveyed for a possible partnership for community development last April 17, 2016 and Pamarawan, Malolos, Bulacan.
Led by Dr. Manuel Morga, the adviser of the TSDP and the Program lead of Economics and Development Studies Cluster, the group coordinated with the Cebu City Mayor and Pamarawan Chairman Cesar Bartolome to expedite local initiatives for stepping up community programs and projects especially in livehood, environmental , educational, economic and other concerns.
During its visit in the village, the group conducted its activities in a two-pronged strategic processes: on one hand, it was an ocular inspection and diagnosis of the community's socio-cultural, environmental, livelihood, educational, and spatial configurations; on the other, it was a mission that served through medical assistance and donation of medicines, knowledge sharing on disaster and climate change resilience, governance, technical counseling on library management, and microfinancing of social enterprise.
- Assoc. Prof. Edwin Martin, PhD, speaks during the community immersion.
- Prof. Arlen Ancheta, PhD, shares her insights.
Together with the local guides assigned by the Chairman Bartolome, each team was deployed to its designated locations.
TSDP was composed of more than 30 professionals from various fields such as economics, development studies, education, architecture, health care, and communication Thomasians who notably participated in the immersion were Dr. Arlen Ancheta, faculty member at the Faculty of Arts and Letters and Urban Environment cluster head of the Research Center on Culture, Education, and Social Issues, who discussed Disaster Resilience; and Dr. Edwin Martin, Lead Program of the Public Administration and Political Science cluster who discussed Barangay Governance and Development.
As a follow up activity, the TSDP will hold a post evaluation report and a presentation of findings at the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School.
