University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) serves another term as member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSCFI) starting August 2018 to July 2020. With its mandate to provide leadership in the development of open learning and distance education in the country, UPOU gives as much importance in serving its local community as it serves the country.UPOU, represented by Chancellor Melinda dela Pena Bandalaria, was re-elected as a member of Board of Trustees (BOT) of LBSCFI in conjunction with its 2nd Steering Committee meeting on 29 July 2018. Along with University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) as President, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) as Vice President, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) as Secretary, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) as Treasurer, UPOU will be serving the community through LBSCFI with the rest of the Board of Trustees, namely, Los Baños Doctors Hospital and Medical Center (LBDHMC), Department of Science and Technology Region IV-A (DOST4A), University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI), and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Los Baños.The UPOU has been a member of LBSCFI since December 2000 and has served as a BOT member for four consecutive terms. In 2010-2012, UPOU served as President where Dr.Grace Javier Alfonso, then Chancellor of UPOU, spearheaded LBSCFI’s Maki-Makiling, a TV show on local cable which aims to plant seeds of awareness in appreciation for science and technology and tackles important issues confronting the Los Baños community. Dr. Bandalaria envisions continuous leadership for UPOU in promoting community involvement that generates public service initiatives.UPOU actively participates as part of the Education, Tourism, and Information Committees, represented by Dr. Aurora V. Lacaste, Dr. Consuelo dL. Habito, and Ms. Anna Canas-Llamas, respectively. UPOU also participates in the yearly flagship activity of LBSCFI, SyenSaya, where it actively co-organizes the Wonderama Exhibits, and TechnoForum activities. Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Director of the UPOU Information Office, represents Dr. Bandalaria in Steering Committee Meetings while Ms. Eleanor Manipol is UPOU’s over-all coordinator for LBSCFI matters.The LBSCFI is the only surviving science community established by the DOST. It was established in 1984 with 10 private and public institutions in Los Baños seeking to share library resources with one another. LBSCFI, now with 22 member-agencies, adheres to its dedication in uplifting the community by mobilizing inter-agency cooperation and the sharing of science and technology resources. (RHBulanhagui & ACLlamas)
