Cavite State University (Philippines)

Campus Civic Engagement Activities (2019–2024) – Brief Overview

From 2019 to 2024, Cavite State University – Bacoor City Campus carried out a wide range of civic engagement activities through its Extension Services and the BACOOREx Program, which is anchored to the Ugnayan 2.0 Poverty Alleviation Framework. These activities were designed to respond to the needs of the community, focusing on livelihood, education, health, digital literacy, and disaster preparedness. The programs involved residents from partner barangays, out-of-school youth, overseas Filipino workers, and faculty members who also took part as extension implementers.

The early years were devoted to awareness and orientation. In 2019, the campus introduced the BACOOREx Program to faculty, students, and officials of Molino II. Seminars on gender sensitivity and development analysis were conducted, followed by community-centered sessions under Project 1, which included training on Psychological First Aid and an Anti-Drug Campaign in Molino VII. These initial steps built the foundation for stronger partnerships with the community.

In 2020, the campus responded to immediate challenges brought by the Taal eruption and the COVID-19 pandemic. Relief operations were carried out for evacuees, stranded students, and barangay quarantine workers. Alongside these efforts, several livelihood and technical trainings were introduced from entrepreneurship and food safety to basic doughnut-making and digital literacy through Microsoft Word and Excel tutorials. Mental health awareness also became a priority, with webinars addressing the effects of the pandemic and offering strategies for coping and adjustment.

By 2021, CvSU Bacoor expanded its scope by offering both livelihood and resilience-focused activities. Doughnut-making trainings and the project “D’ Must Share Doughnut” highlighted practical income-generating skills, while “Lending Hands, Helping the Community” emphasized relief and outreach. Urban farming and aquaculture projects were also introduced to promote sustainable food production, complemented by computer literacy sessions and awareness campaigns on child labor and disaster preparedness. The year concluded with the MicroBusiness Training Series for OFWs, which guided participants in preparing business models, marketing strategies, financial plans, and pitching their business ideas.

The campus further strengthened its extension work in 2022 by holding review and planning workshops for faculty and launching nutrition support activities under CvSU Relief Action for children in Molino II and VII. Project KKK (Kaagapay sa Kabuhayan tungo sa Kaunlaran) also provided nearly 90 beneficiaries with skills in disinfectant production, sanitation, and cookery. Training programs for faculty included a CANVA workshop and capability enhancement sessions for extension implementers, while residents benefited from urban gardening, disaster preparedness orientations, and additional computer literacy training.

In 2023, CvSU Bacoor turned its attention to ensuring sustainability by conducting a Training Workshop on Impact Assessment. This trained 34 faculty and staff members to measure the results of extension projects, helping the university improve the relevance and long-term value of its programs.

By 2024, the focus became more community-centered. ALS learners at Mambog Elementary School and women at BJMP-Bacoor were trained in perfume-making, product packaging, and marketing strategies, with some receiving starter kits to help them begin small businesses. The Tara Basa literacy program was also introduced, encouraging children to read and learn beyond the classroom. Meanwhile, digital editing and e-commerce workshops were conducted to help residents explore opportunities in the online economy.

Over the course of five years, CvSU Bacoor’s civic engagement activities steadily grew in depth and coverage. What began with orientations and community awareness has developed into a set of multidimensional programs that combine livelihood, education, health, digital literacy, and resilience building. These efforts reflect the campus’s continuing commitment to empower communities, support local development, and contribute to poverty alleviation in Bacoor and surrounding areas.