Philippine E-Journals

Exploring research as outreach: St. Paul University Manila’s pursuit of community service via research in Botolan, Zambales

Brian Saludes Bantugan

 

Abstract:

This paper reflects on the author‘s experience of an emergent community during the early years of his term in the Institutional Research and Planning Office (or IRPO , now the Center for Research, Innovation, and Development) in St. Paul University Manila. It captures the multiple intentions behind the unit‘s engagement with climate refugees in Botolan, Zambales, the circumstances that made it happen, the challenges it faced, and the learnings that were drawn out from decisions implemented. As a conclusion, the paper the implications of following intuitively leads towards assisting vulnerable communities and synergizing efforts to bring about quality service despite institutional limitations.