Lingayen, Pangasinan — The Office of the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension Services (OVPRIES), led by VPRIES Dr. Magno M. Quendangan, convened its divisions for a three-day tactical planning workshop aimed at strengthening synergy, enhancing performance, and setting a unified strategic direction for 2026. Delegates from the Research, Development, and Innovation Office (RDIO) and its nine units and centers, the Gender Studies and Development Office (GSDO), and the Extension and Community Services Office (ECSO) actively participated in the collaborative discussions and planning sessions, held on December 10-12, 2025.

Anchored on the theme “Strengthening Synergy in Research, Innovation, IP Management, Extension, and GAD: Building a Future-Ready VPRIES for Transformative and Sustainable Impact,” the workshop served as a venue for thoughtful assessment of the division’s operations, accomplishments, and challenges. Participants collectively identified areas for improvement, including the need to further streamline research processes, increase innovation productivity, strengthen gender mainstreaming across programs, integrate digital solutions more efficiently, and enhance community-centered extension initiatives. The conversations also highlighted the importance of improved documentation, stronger industry partnerships, and more systematic monitoring and evaluation to ensure that research and extension projects create measurable and sustainable impact.

Reflecting on the significance of the activity, one of the delegates, Atty. Archibald Jose T. Manansala, emphasized the value of the gathering, stating, “This event gave us the chance to clearly identify the areas we need to improve.” “It is an opportunity to realign our efforts and ensure that our work continues to create meaningful impact for the communities we serve”, Assoc. Prof. John Eric Estrellado, RDIO Director, added.

The planning event was made even more engaging through group dynamic activities and a socialization program. Dr. Quendangan expressed his appreciation to all the delegates and the technical working group, as mentioned in his message in one of the program sections.