ILIGAN CITY (PIA) — The Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) hosted the 2024 International Conference on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Social Innovation (ICUNSSI) to highlight its dedication to advancing the UN SDGs through innovative approaches that address pressing global issues.
Dubbed “Belongingness and Interconnectedness: Magnifying Development and Innovation,” the conference underscored the importance of collaboration across sectors and disciplines.
The conference covered topics ranging from poverty eradication to climate action through three main tracks: well-being, economics, and environment, all aligned with specific SDGs.
MSU-IIT Chancellor Alizedney M. Ditucalan highlighted the diversity of participants and viewed it as a form of social innovation.
“One of the key goals of the university is the attainment of the UN SDGs. I must say that MSU-IIT has made significant contributions in terms of the SDGs, not only in the field of community engagement but also in research,” he said.
Meanwhile, Vincenzo Bollettino, the keynote speaker and Director of the Program on Resilient Communities at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, emphasized the urgent reality of climate change and its serious impacts on people, including rising sea levels, intensified storms, increased flooding, and heightened temperatures.
He stressed the importance of conducting solid research to understand how individuals experience these disasters and to translate that understanding into meaningful information that can inform policy and program design.
“We want to proceed with primary research and begin interpreting those findings with community data, making sure that local policymakers, the LGUs, national government agencies, international organizations, and local community-based organizations have the data to design programs,” he said.
Moreover, Mohammad Adzka Crosamer, an undergraduate student from Indonesia, said that attending the conference helped him understand and appreciate SDGs.
The LGU Iligan presented two research papers during the conference. Dindo Donald Manulat Jr., the Strategic Support Division head of LGU Iligan, emphasized the importance of collaboration with the academe and translating research into policy.
“Naa man ta sa implementing body. We hope this time, ang atong decision-making should be based sa data ug research. Di ta mag-base sa istorya lang. Dapat scientific ang atong approach para mahimong successful ang atong foundation,” he said.
(We are part of the implementing body. We hope this time our decision-making will be based on data and research. We should not rely on mere stories. Our approach should be scientific to ensure the success of our foundation.)
Manulat presented a case study about the LGU’s “Oplan Bisita” initiative, which had served more than 247 beneficiaries with a budget of P2.5 million for medicines and cash assistance. This program targets the elderly and those with serious health conditions.
He also expressed hope for increased participation from researchers from the LGU to share research findings and make meaningful contributions to policy-making.
Notably, the LGU bases its projects and programs on the Iligan Development Goals and aligns them with the UN SDGs. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
