Adela G. Estrañero’s scientific contributions

Empowering people through the implementation of sustainable community development programs is one of the prime concerns of Higher Education Institutions (HEI). Through responsive extension programs and services of HEIs and strong partnerships with LGUs, the people are empowered, socioeconomic status is uplifted and the cultural heritage is conserved. This study aimed to assess the impact of the LGU-Funded extension programs of a State Higher Institution in the Philippines. This descriptive research study used a questionnaire and interview with 180 beneficiaries and utilized mean and rank. The results revealed that extension program implementers are highly capable in terms of leadership, personnel, and financial capability. The participation of LGUs and community people is high. In addition, the level of program outputs of the extension services is satisfactory and the impact of the extension programs is rated satisfactory. Hence, the partnership between the LGU and the academe and funding of the extension programs and activities by LGUs shall be sustained. The adoption and implementation of the extension improvement plan is proposed.

Climate change is one of the most complex issues facing us today. It is a global problem that was felt on a local scale and will continue to affect future generations. In such context, this study was conducted to identify the college initiatives in adapting and mitigating climate change. A descriptive method was used to solicit the needed data and information from the students, faculty, staff, and administrators of the six campuses of the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC). Based on the results, most of the respondents are female, aged 17-19 years old, have BS courses, with parents who are mostly farmers and housekeepers, with 4-6 family members, and whose parents’ monthlyincome ranges from 3,000.00-12,000.00. The majority of the personnel are female, aged 50-54 years old, M.A. graduate, and Associate/Assistant Professors, with 26-30 years in government service. Immediate impact seen in the environment is the most serious problem in adapting and mitigating climate change. Reduce, reuse, and recycle of waste are some of the effective means to combat climate change. It is then recommended that information dissemination on climate change be made regularly to possibly inculcate to students and the community the hazards that it brings or that may happen if adaptation and mitigation measures are not practiced. Last, ISPSC personnel as rolemodels and change agents should implement different programs related to ecological balance and re-greening programs.

This study determined the socio-demographic profile of loom weavers, the equipment, tools materials, processes, patterns, designs, and terms in loom weaving. It also analyzed the chain of supply and the effect of loom weaving to tourism and socio-economic status of the community. It was conducted using the quantitative and qualitative descriptive research design. A self-structured questionnaire and ethnographic processes was utilized to obtain relative data.Majority of the loom weavers are: females, senior citizens, elementary graduates, purely weavers as to their field role, with experience of 26 years and above, having estimated monthly income of 5,000, who organized themselves into associations and most of their products are marketed to customers through the micro entrepreneur-weavers. They utilize almost the same type of loom, loom accessories, tools, materials and processes. The weaving patterns they are producing are: Plain, Twill, and Overshot. Out of these patterns, varieties of designs are created. The loom weaving supply chain reflects the interconnections and movement of raw materials into finished products up to its market outlets. The effect of loom weaving to tourism and socio-economic status is described as Much Beneficial and Moderately Beneficial respectively. A collaborative intervention program is recommended to be initiated by concerned agencies to control the occurrence of dearth of loom weavers in the future, to improve marketing system, and to level up the benefit of loom weaving to tourism and socio-economic status of the people.