With the aim to strengthen linkages among academe, industries, Local Government Units (LGUs), other government agencies, and the community, the Benguet State University (BSU) established partnerships with various government agencies and an LGU by signing usufruct agreements on May 27 and May 29, 2025.
The initial set of agreements, signed on May 27, 2025, at the BSU RDC Hall, includes BSU’s partnerships with the Bureau of Fire Protection – Cordillera Administrative Region (BFP-CAR); the Department of Education – Schools Division of Benguet (DepEd-Benguet); LGU – La Trinidad; and the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI). The usufruct signing was led by Kenneth A. Laruan, BSU President; Robert M. Pacis, OIC Regional Director of BFP-CAR; Estela P. Leon-Cariño, DepEd-CAR Regional Director; Hon. Romeo K. Salda, Mayor of La Trinidad Mayor; and Julius L. Leaño Jr., Director IV of DOST-PTRI.
The University and BFP-CAR’s agreement grants BFP-CAR the temporary use of BSU land in Cabanao Balili, La Trinidad, for the construction of the Office of the Provincial Fire Director for Benguet Province. Another usufruct agreement was signed that grants the BFP-CAR to temporarily utilize the BSU land in Loo, Buguias, Benguet for the construction of the Buguias Fire Station.
On the same day, BSU and the BFP-CAR also signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to address the mental health needs of BFP personnel. The BSU’s Human Resource Development Office will provide mental health and wellbeing treatment and intervention.
Likewise, the BSU, DepEd-Benguet, and LGU La Trinidad’s partnerships also allow DepEd-Benguet to temporary use BSU’s old Institute of Public Administration building for the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program, with the support of the LGU La Trinidad.
BSU and DOST-PTRI’s agreement also outlines the temporary use of the BSU land located at Sitio Tabangaoen, Barangay Balili, La Trinidad, Benguet by the DOST-PTRI for research activities.
A separate usufruct agreement was signed on May 29, 2025, at the College of Human Kinetics between BSU and the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office-CAR (DA-RFO-CAR) and DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-CAR, represented by its Regional Director Lois June B. Fermin.
The agreement enables DA-BFAR-CAR the temporary use of BSU land for a proposed Technology Outreach Station dedicated to fish production and other fishery-related activities. This partnership aims to enhance the development of the fisheries sector in the region.
In return, these agencies will become automatic partners of BSU in terms of capacity building, student internships, research endeavors, and activities that promote linkages and harmonious relationships with the community and in all activities that aim to protect the environment, particularly the BSU land reservation.
During the signing ceremony on May 27, 2025, BSU President Kenneth A. Laruan looked forward to long-term engagements with the partner agencies, emphasizing the collaborations’ contribution to the realization of BSU’s mandates.
“We are looking for a long-term engagement with you in terms of the mandates of the university in research, extension, and of course in support of our academic programs,” the University President said.
Reynante B. Basco, Chief of BSU’s Office for Legal Affairs, explained that these agreements are based on a standard template approved by the BSU Board of Regents and underscored the partners’ shared responsibility in protecting BSU’s landholdings.
“Apart from the partnership in terms of assistance by way of our academic research aspect, we would like also to emphasize that you are our partners in the protection of the issue land holdings,” said Basco.
After the usufruct agreements signing, representatives from the partner agencies expressed their gratitude to BSU and committed to strengthening these collaborative efforts. These partnerships are hoped to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals.//EBawayan