Rizal Technological University (RTU) convened a comprehensive three-day strategic planning symposium entitled “Recalibration of Performance Targets and Budget for FY 2025: Ensuring Gender Responsiveness and Inclusion.” The planning event conducted from February 26-28, 2025, at the Plaza Garden Hotel in Baguio City, assembled principal university administrators to harmonize institutional objectives with gender-responsive paradigms.
The symposium emphasized RTU’s dedication to enhancement under the guiding philosophical premise that “Without regular calibration, even the sharpest tool loses its precision”—an axiom that underscores the significance of adaptive methodologies in contemporary higher education governance.
The symposium included a formal plenary session featuring addresses from Dr. Rodolfo L. Ducut, Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA), and Dr. Ma. Eugenia M. Yangco, University President, who articulated the institution’s strategic vision for Fiscal Year 2025. Assoc. Prof.Ella D. Aragon, Director of the Planning Office (PO), presented a longitudinal analysis of the RTU Scorecard (2020-2023) in conjunction with the Annual Performance Commitment Review (APCR) 2024 outcomes, establishing a robust empirical foundation for subsequent strategic deliberations.
Sessions were dedicated to a comprehensive Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis across multiple administrative divisions, including the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs (VPASA), VPFA, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension Services (VPRIES), Vice President for Planning, Quality Assurance, and Strategic Initiatives (VPPQASI), as well as the Office of the President (OP) and Pasig campuses.
Instr. Shereen Yanna B. Cadilena, Director of the Gender and Development Office (GSDO), facilitated discussions on gender inclusion strategies within academic and operational planning frameworks. Divisional representatives subsequently presented their proposed programmatic initiatives and fiscal allocations for FY 2025. Assoc. Prof. Aragon introduced the 2025 APCR, emphasizing institutional accountability mechanisms and quantifiable performance indicators. The Human Resource-Performance Management System (HR-PMS) Head, Instr. Shaira Rona, also facilitated an instructional session on Higher Commitment Forms and Individual Performance Commitment and Review (IPCR) protocols.
The symposium also featured divisional administrators, articulating their commitment to the university’s strategic plans. This initiative exemplifies RTU’s proactive approach to institutional excellence, reinforcing its commitment to gender-responsive governance and inclusive development within the higher education sector. RTU continues to establish a precedent for progressive and equitable academic institutions in the Philippine educational landscape.
