August 7, 2025 – Surigao del Norte State University (SNSU) actively participated in the 3rd and Final Joint Programme Steering Committee (JPSC) Meeting of the “SDG Localize to Realize” (L2R) program, held at The Westin Manila. The event convened national and local government partners, civil society organizations, and United Nations agencies to assess and sustain local SDG progress.

Present during the event were United Nations dignitaries – Mr. Arnaud Peral, United Nations Resident Coordinator; Mr. Christopher E. Rollo, Country Program Manager, UN-Habitat; and Ms. Ma. Rosalyn Mesina, Country Program Coordinator, UN Women. Also in attendance were the Vice Mayor Alfonso S. Casurra representing the City Mayor Pablo Yves Dumlao II, Atty. Rise Recabo representing Gov. Lyndon Barbers, Regional Directors, Undersecretaries of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and key national stakeholders.

SNSU President Dr. Rowena A. Plando attended the session on SDG Localization – National and Local Stakeholders Interaction as both an observer and a speaker. She was joined by Dr. Jun Sunico, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension.

In her address, Dr. Plando shared SNSU’s transformative initiatives toward achieving SDG 4 (Quality Education), especially for indigenous peoples such as the Sama Bajau. These include an inclusive admissions policy that reserves 10% of enrollment slots for marginalized groups, as well as a suite of upcoming community-based projects focused on education, livelihood, and environmental sustainability for vulnerable communities.

“The L2R Program aligned local realities with global aspirations,” she remarked. “Let this final JPSC meeting not be an end, but a renewed beginning for deeper partnerships and expanded impact.”

SNSU reaffirmed its commitment to embedding SDG principles in its academic, research, and extension initiatives, solidifying its role as a vital partner in driving inclusive and sustainable development across the Caraga region and beyond.

“𝐹𝘰𝑟 𝑖𝘯𝑐𝘭𝑢𝘴𝑖𝘷𝑒 𝑔𝘳𝑜𝘸𝑡𝘩, 𝑒𝘮𝑝𝘰𝑤𝘦𝑟𝘦𝑑 𝑙𝘪𝑣𝘦𝑠 𝑎𝘯𝑑 𝑎 𝑠𝘦𝑟𝘷𝑖𝘤𝑒-𝑓𝘰𝑐𝘶𝑠𝘦𝑑 𝑓𝘶𝑡𝘶𝑟𝘦”

𝗦𝗗𝗚 𝟭𝟳 – 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀

SDG 4- Quality Education