Retiring BSU prexy urges support to his successor

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Benguet State University president Dr. Ben D. Ladilad opted to retire rather than ask for reappointment for  additional four years term even as he urged BSU employees to support his successor.

Ladilad gracing probably his last BSU flag ceremony as university president cited some of his administration’s accomplishments, saying BSU under his administration is now a step in grasping its vision as “premier state university in Asia.

He said BSU for years consistently appeared in the country’s academic map in terms of passing rate. “In fact, the university’s passing rate is higher than the national passing rate in nine out of the 10 fields of licensure examinations. With this, enrollees continue increase in number from 17,429 of SY 2011-2012 to 19,204 as of second quarter of this SY 2014-2015. In the granting of scholarships, the university yearly increased their student scholars from 1,558 of 2012 to 2,280 of 2014.”

Manpower development among teaching personnel was also a highlight with 88 percent or 22 out of 25 of masteral degree aspirants of 2012 increasing to 100 percent in 2013 and 2014.

This, while PhD percentage is constant at 100 percent since 2012, he said. The university also sent 107 teaching personnel international for studies or events while 1,806 were sent to nationwide seminars/workshops during Ladilad’s administration.

“BSU produces sharp graduates while it breeds high level educators. Win-win for both BSU teachers and students”, said Ladilad.

Ladilad cited vital role of the university’s research and extension function, in which he increased research and extension programs of the institution. Ladilad said he acquired counterpart funds for programs with international agencies for research.

A total of 440 research projects were conducted and completed on schedule. From these, 105 were granted intellectual property rights. Among these were copyrighted manuals, brochures, monographs and literary works.

A total of 145 were journal publications, conference proceedings, books and training manuals/workbooks. All of these will be used for the university’s instruction programs.

Research paper presentations also increased during Ladilad’s administration from the 149 and 122 of 2012 and 2013 to 215 of 2014 a total of 486 which were presented nationwide and overseas.

“These research projects notably brought honor to BSU. From 2012 to 2014, BSU bagged a remarkable number of 97 awards. 52 of which were institutional, eight were regional, 27 were national and the remaining 10 were international awards”, said Ladilad.

Development and upgrading of laboratories was also done.

He added in maximizing Commission of Higher Education’s national budget allocation amounting to P17 million, BSU erected and upgraded three major laboratory facilities: Regional Tissue Culture Laboratory, Analytical Service Laboratory Center and laboratory facilities for materials and machine testing and metal works.

The RTCL was established in 2013 and has five greenhouses for the acclimatization, seeding production and eventually production of tissue cultured cutflowers. “This is to heed the farmers’ clamor for clean planting materials for flowers, vegetables and fruit crops. Also, the facility provides an avenue for students taking up Plant Tissue Culture subject for them to have a hands-on experience on tissue culture and to impart training venues for entrepreneurs and farmers with regards to tissue culture”, said Ladilad.

The BSU-ASLC on the other hand, according to Ladilad will enable BSU clients with modern equipment such as graphite furnace AAS, microwave digester and kjeltic nitrogen analyzer.

These high-end laboratory equipment will assist also BSU students in increasing their entry-level competency. “These will also aid them in their studies requiring chemical testing analysis together with heavy metal analysis, if needed. This way, it will bring them closer and have a hands-on utilization of these mentioned modern equipments and they need not to go down to Manila to have their samples and studies analysed”, said Ladilad.

The Materials and Machine Testing, and Metal Works Laboratory was established to elevate the then mediocre state of laboratory equipment in College of Engineering and Applied Technology.

Now, modern equipment is used in CEAT laboratory to include Metal lathe machine, portable hardness tester, engine dynamometer, sheet and forming machine, digital torque tester, hydraulic press, metal sheet roller, oxy-acetylene welding, hydraulic pipe bender, arc welding machine, universal testing machine, bed type milling machine, automatic oxy-ascetylene cutter and auto electrical system.

Ladilad added  the collaborative project was entered between BSU and Department of Science and Technology wherein they acquired computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines amounting to P17 million to serve needs of small local metals and engineering industry in Cordillera and other regions.

For BSU CEAT students, it will give them opportunity to go on-the-job trainings (OJT) on CNC turning/lathe and milling machine programming and operation. What’s more, it will also assist faculty and staff in conducting their research and development activities in relation to fabrication and production of equipment.   

In the Production function of BSU, by means of the implementation of its Research and Development project, the University was able to score an incidental income of Php 2,404,312.04 as of 2013.

“Profits came from different institutes/centers within BSU from OES, Research Services-Strawberry Runner Production, Benguet Vegetable Processing Certer, Cordillera Organic Agriculture Research and Development Center (COARDC), Horticulture Research and Training Institute (HORTI), Institute of Highland Farming System and Agroforestry (IHFSA), IHFSA-Biodiversity Program scoring P303,945.00, P231,703.18, P1,335,471.86, P10,300.00, P62,397.00, P448,415.00 P12,080.00 respectively totaling to an amount of P2,404,312.04”, said Ladilad

On the BSU land use plan, Ladilad said they facilitated an intensive campus master planning workshop held last February.

A draft of the land-use plan was crafted, but still awaiting BSU board’s approval.

Based on the land-use plan draft, the general direction structures will be introduced and current configuration will be modernized in order to conform to advance standards and to the constantly changing demands of demands of the environment. These structures will also accommodate the yearly influx of students, faculty and staff. Technological innovations in facilities and equipment will be adopted to meet the global standards.

Proposals include expansion and improvement of buildings, facilities and equipment, establishments of new land uses, buildings, facilities and equipment, Relocation of programs/projects, and Restoration of old facilities.

The Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) was also established which according to him, will play a huge role in serving less-privileged Benguet farmers from production to commerce. “Once fully operational at the soonest, probably December, with project cost amounting to P 655,555,522.53, BAPTC will be the largest trading center in the country”, said Ladilad

“Here BSU will be employing their three functions, appropriate researches from the Research function of BSU will be put into play to serve our farmers gearing them the necessary tools for global competitiveness in preparation for the ASEAN integration though AFTA. BSU making use of its Extension function will be also bestow technical assistance for the operation of the said facility. But more importantly, BAPTC will serve as training ground for BSU students from agricultural production, postharvest handling, processing to entrepreneurship”, said Ladilad. 

Ladilad said he will retire on Dec. 5. He ended his speech by urging his fellow employees to render their utmost support to the next university president like what they did during his administration.