The Saint Louis University’s (SLU) groundbreaking project, “Food Upcycling in the Cordilleras,” clinched two major awards at the inaugural ASEAN Conference on Extension for SDGs (ACES) Summit 2025. Held on 29 November 2025, at the Tourism Hall of Cagayan de Oro City, the Summit served as a high-level regional platform for higher education institutions (HEIs) to demonstrate their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SLU’s dedicated team of researchers from the University and Ghent University, Belgium, brought home the Planet Category – 1st Runner-Up (2nd Place) award and the Best Poster Presenter Award Richel Lamadrid, PhD a faculty member of the School of Accountancy, Management, Computing and Information Studies (SAMCIS) and the current Research, Innovation, and Sustainable Extension (RISE) Center Director. These accolades recognized the project’s exceptional contribution to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), marking SLU as a powerhouse for sustainable development initiatives in the ASEAN region.
A Day of Collaboration and Conviction: ACES Summit Highlights
The ACES Summit 2025, anchored on the institutional development plans of the City College of Cagayan De Oro (CCCDO), convened ASEAN educators, policymakers, and community leaders with the shared mission of aligning extension work with the SDGs.
Vision for Lasting Transformation
The day commenced with welcome remarks from Jestoni Babia, PhD CCCDO President, who set the tone by emphasizing that extension work is not merely a requirement but a conviction. He emphasized that sustainability is a moral imperative and that the SDGs must become a “lived reality,” urging attendees to move “unapologetically forward” in building communities for lasting transformation, stating, “When people rise together, nations rise with them.”
Summit Objectives and Key Discussions
Ray Butch Mahinay, PhD then presented the rationale behind the Summit, which included promoting knowledge exchange, strengthening partnerships, and recognizing excellence in extension and sustainable development.
The event featured the 1st ASEAN SDG Project Presentation, which grouped competing projects under the themes of People, Planet, and Prosperity, leading to the major award categories.
High-profile speakers and guests contributed to the rich dialogue:
- Senator Bam Aquino delivered a message via AVP, highlighting the critical role of education and community in the crucial task of nation-building.
- Arlita Amapola Minguez, PhD OIC-CHED Regional 10, discussed the CHED “ACHIEVE” project and educated the audience on the pressing concerns of weak industry and research linkages and low SDG responses among HEIs.
- Atty. Roy Hilario Raagas, delivering the keynote on behalf of Mayor Rolando Uy, focused on research and extension as meaningful forces that shape the nation, inspiring collaboration to uplift communities.
- Honorable Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez redefined the ACES acronym as Access, Collaboration, Empowerment, and Stewardship, underscoring the vital focus on youth support in building a sustainable future.
- Khalifatulloh Fiel’ardh, PhD from Okayama University, Japan, offered a global perspective on “Futures Thinking on Localizing the SDGs through Extension Work,” advocating for more holistic, systemic, and forward-looking approaches — rather than siloed, short-term efforts — when “localizing” SDGs through extension (community outreach, educational programs, university–community linkages).
- Her Excellency Phasporn Sangasubana, the Executive Director of ASEAN Center for Sustainable Development Studies & Dialogue, noted that achieving SDG 13 on Climate Change remains a universal struggle.
The information dissemination closed with a panel discussion featuring presenters from the World-Wide Fund Philippines, Cebu Technological University, and CCCDO, who shared best practices in community building.
SLU’s Commitment to a Waste-Conscious Future
The success of the “Food Upcycling in the Cordilleras to Curb Post-Harvest Losses and Food Loss & Waste” project marks a significant victory for SLU. The project was carefully selected as a finalist from numerous entries nationwide due to its clear and innovative approach to tackling post-harvest waste. This initiative, supported by funding agencies VLIR-UOS and SLU, is a direct reflection of the University’s deep institutional commitment. SDG projects fall directly under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD aligning perfectly with SLU’s strategic plan. The awards prove that SLU’s integration of the Sustainable Development Goals is more than just a directive; it is a mission carried out with intention, care, and a clear vision for a meaningful and sustainable impact. (Article and Photos by the RISE Center)
