BAGUIO CITY — Baguio Central University (BCU), through the College of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (CTELA), College of Business Administration (CBA), College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE), and a Representative from the Non-Teaching Staff actively participated in the strategic planning for regional development during the Development of MBLISTTDA Research Agenda: Coordination Meeting with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) held on November 12, 2026, at The Plaza Garden & Hotel Residences, Legarda Road, Baguio City.
Representing the university and the colleges were Ms. Jenema H. Wacangan, Research Coordinator of the College of Teacher and Liberal Arts, Ms. Shamany Lokines, Faculty of the College of Business Administration, Ms. Beca May P. Palitayan, Dean and Research Coordinator of the College of Criminal Justice Education, and Engr. Lorelie S. Malit, Research Coordinator of the Non-Teaching Staff. Their participation underscores BCU’s commitment to aligning faculty, student and employee research initiatives with the long-term policy and development needs of the Baguio–La Trinidad–Itogon–Sablan–Tuba–Tublay (BLISTT) metropolitan area.
Convened by the Metropolitan BLISTT Development Authority (MBLISTTDA), the assembly brought together academic research leaders to shape the MBLISTTDA Research Agenda for Calendar Years 2026–2040. The 14-year framework aims to establish an evidence-based foundation for metropolitan governance, sustainable urban planning, and inter-local cooperation across the six BLISTT local government units.
During the plenary sessions, MBLISTTDA officials outlined key entry points for university-led research and institutional collaboration:
- Strategic Alignment: Planning Officer III Engr. Katelyn G. Gabon presented the Research Agenda Matrix, detailing priority thematic areas where academic expertise can directly inform regional policy.
- Stakeholder Linkages: Director I for Planning Marygail Antontette N. Killa discussed avenues for formalizing stakeholder alliances between MBLISTTDA and partner HEIs.
- Current Research Landscape: MBLISTTDA Administrator ASEC. Maria Monica C. Costales, PhD, shared insights from the authority’s recently concluded and ongoing research studies, illustrating how empirical data drives metropolitan interventions.
The consultation concluded with an open forum and synthesis of agreements led by Engr. Gabon, providing HEI representatives the opportunity to map out collaborative research engagements.
For the College of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts, participation in the MBLISTTDA initiative opens timely opportunities to anchor faculty research, graduate theses, and undergraduate studies in pressing local realities—spanning educational development, cultural preservation, social sciences, communication, and community governance across the BLISTT area.
Through its active engagement in the CY 2026–2040 Research Agenda, Baguio Central University continues to position itself as a proactive partner in regional progress, ensuring that BCU-CTELA’s academic excellence translates into lasting, evidence-based service for the Baguio-Benguet community.