A fifty (50)-hectare usufructuary agreement for the establishment of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Facility for Agricultural Integrated Research (FAIR) and a three (3)-hectare usufructuary deed for the establishment of facilities, including a public cemetery for Barangay Tagukon, were signed by Central Philippines State University (CPSU).

The joint ceremony for the signing of usufruct agreements welcomed the presence of the DA-Negros Island Regional (NIR) Executive Director and CPSU Board of Regents Member, Hon. Jose Albert A. Barrogo, and Tagukon’s Barangay Local Government Unit Head, Hon. Raymundo R. Meleloa, as they represented their respective institutions.

According to CPSU Board Secretary V, Ma’am Nelly N. Cabual’s Overview of the Usufruct Agreements, the fifty-hectare CPSU-DA NIR Usufruct is “Intended for the establishment of the FAIR and related agricultural research, extension, food security, agroforestry, and educational activities.”

With DA-NIR’s active presence and the anticipated establishment of the FAIR, students potentially stand to benefit from a wealth of new learning opportunities from the modern agricultural laboratories for more hands-on training, fostering innovation, critical thinking, and practical skills to enrich their academic journey and better prepare them for their future careers in agriculture.

In his message, Doctor Barrogo affirms DA’s commitment to also tapping the academic resources and the research capabilities of CPSU’s students and faculty in addressing the problems that the country faces today in the field of agriculture and so encourages them to be more engaged in research and spark innovation in making an impact for the region.

On the other hand, the three-hectare usufruct for Barangay Tagukon will allot one hectare for the proposed Barangay Hall and other attached structures to support public service delivery for constituents and the remaining two hectares for the proposed Barangay Tagukon Public Cemetery, providing an accessible place for burial and remembrance for the community.

The establishment of the Barangay Tagukon Public Cemetery alleviates the community’s burden of burying their deceased loved ones in Negros Oriental despite being situated in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, while improving local sanitation standards, particularly regarding burial practices to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

Punong Barangay Meleloa was emotional in his message as he thanked the CPSU community, especially the Board of Regents and the key officials, for making the signing of the usufructuary agreement and materializing the long-sought goal of the Tagukon BLGU in service of their constituents.

Outgoing University President Dr. Aladino C. Moraca signed the agreements on behalf of the institution, while Vice President for Administration and Finance, Engr. Marc Alexei Caesar B. Badajos, PhD, welcomed the DA-NIR team and the attendees, and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Grenny I. Jungco, formally closed the ceremony with his remarks.

The future programs in the usufructuary sites aim to foster rural development in the area in support of the establishment of the Negros Island Region and the national goal of ensuring food security for the country, all while coordinating and working hand-in-hand with the local community members and ensuring that they will also be accommodated in the developments that arise in CPSU’s land reserve.

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