LAMUT, Ifugao (PIA) -- The six State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the Cordillera Region attended the Regional Futures Consortium Workshop: High-Level Anticipatory Leadership and Governance Executive Course conducted in Tagaytay City recently.

The workshop paved the way for the Abra State Institute of Science and Technology(ASIST), Apayao  State College(ASC), Benguet State University(BSU), Ifugao State University(IFSU), Kalinga State University(KSU), and Mountain Province State  College(MPSPC)  to identify their focal concerns and direction for Futures Thinking and Foresight development, said  Jude Baggo, IFSU Director for Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems Center.  

IFSU identified the Ifugao Rice Terraces as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System as its  focal concern; development of   silk industry for  KSU,  bamboo development for  ASIST,   Smart Farming for  BSU,  sustainable biodiversity for  ASC and glocalization  for MPSPC.

Meanwhile, part of the event was the signing of two memoranda of agreement among the CAR SUCs to create the CAR Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight Consortium and collaboration with the Philippine Futures Society.

IFSU President and Cordillera Administrative Region Association of State Universities and Colleges (CARASUC) Chairperson Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon said   the newly established Regional Consortium among CAR SUCs is a way forward towards forecasting alternative futures   especially in the region being the culturally dynamic and geographically rich region to engage and apply futures thinking and foresight concepts. She explained that as SUCs, there is a need to anticipate and plan for the future.

The workshop is crucial in the development of a regional framework on 'futures' thinking; foster linkages and partnerships and operationalize these plans through instruction, research, extension, and production, she said.

The Regional Futures workshop is an initiative of the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation, and Futures Thinking Chaired by Senator Pia S. Cayetano, in partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines Graduate School and the National College of Public Administration and Governance.  (JDP/FBR-PIA CAR, Ifugao)