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Building Brighter, Safer Futures: BCU Outreach Champions Quality Education, Mental Well-Being, and Climate Preparedness in Benguet Schools

By: Hazel A. Castillo

Community Extension Coordinator, CTELA

Image 1. ON THE GROUND: The Baguio Central University Team coordinates with local educators during their community extension and assessment visit at Franklin Guy Haight National High School in Paoay, Atok, Benguet.

Baguio Central University strengthened its commitment to grassroots education on October 26, 2026, as the BCU team visited Barangay Paoay in Atok, Benguet. The team conducted vital assessment surveys at both Celo Haight Elementary School and Franklin Guy Haight National High School, laying the groundwork for tailored community extension programs designed to uplift local learners.

Leading the community extension initiative was Dr. Michael T. Sebullen, VP for Administration and Director for Research. Joining him on the ground was a specialized delegation of university officials, including College of Business Administration Dean Dr. Cherrie Mae M. Manuel and University Community Extension Coordinator Ms. Arlene A. Mintas. Rounding out the team were Graduate School Community Extension Coordinator Dr. Jennifer T. Longchasen and CTELA Community Extension Coordinator Ms. Hazel A. Castillo.

Designed to address the immediate priorities of the 2026–2027 academic year, the initiative allowed the BCU team to evaluate critical areas for academic development. Moving forward, the university plans to roll out targeted interventions, including school supply distribution, mental health support programs, and vital disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) training.

Stepping up efforts to support primary education in Benguet, the BCU Team coordinated directly with the school principal at Celo Haight Elementary School in Paoay, Atok, to collect vital enrollment figures and evaluate the immediate needs of its learners.
ON-SITE ASSESSMENT: The BCU Team collaborates with the school principal at Franklin Guy Haight National High School in Atok, Benguet, gathering baseline enrollment data to tailor upcoming academic and psychosocial community extension programs.

This outreach is more than a temporary visit; it is a strategic effort mapped against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating mental health support, the project addresses SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), while its academic initiatives drive SDG 4 (Quality Education). The team is also working to create safer, disaster-ready campus environments—hitting the core targets of SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Finally, under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), BCU is mobilizing shared expertise and resources to secure a stronger, more resilient future for the schools in Atok.