Behind many of the University of the Cordilleras’ (UC) community accomplishments in 2025 is a non-government partner. Nurses took vital signs beside physicians’ associations, architecture students sketched with women’s organizations and animal-welfare advocates, and volunteers from Project H.E.L.E.N. brought first aid kits to waste collectors. Through student volunteering programmes, research programmes and the development of educational resources, UC and its NGO partners tackled the SDGs together.
Student Volunteering Programmes
February 8, 2025. The UC Baguio University Student Council and the College of Nursing Student Council held the HIV Awareness Seminar and Blood Donation Drive, “Dugong UC: Para sa Bayan.” Experts from Balay Marvi led discussions on HIV transmission, prevention, treatment and stigma, and with the Baguio General Hospital blood bank, 54 people donated blood and 63 were screened.
February 27, 2025. Level 2 nursing students volunteered at the 19th Community Medical Mission of the Palting United Seniors Organization (PUSO), supporting health assessments and screenings. The mission registered 112 patients, performed 79 laboratory tests and 63 bone density scans, and provided 85 pairs of free eyewear.
April 23, 2025. For its 9th Communidad Celebration, the College of Nursing held its annual Nursing Care Outreach Program with free vital signs monitoring, blood typing, a blood donation drive with Baguio General Hospital, HIV screening and counseling with the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines–Baguio-Benguet Chapter, and consultations with a doctor from the NCIP Regional Office–CAR.
June 7, 2025. Project H.E.L.E.N. and the Alay sa Kapatid (AKAP) Foundation reached Irisan solid waste collectors in Barangay Irisan. UC Occupational Safety and Health and the Emergency Response Volunteers gave a safety orientation and Basic First Aid training, and distributed 50 first aid kits and sets of personal protective equipment.
June 17–19, 2025. During Pride Month, SUMIKOM, the LGBTQIA+ student support group of the Guidance Services and Wellness Center, partnered with Balay Marvi and the Guidance and Counseling Office on free HIV testing that 115 students availed.
July 11–12, 2025. The College of Arts and Sciences held “CAS: Care and Share” in Barangay Pito, Bokod, with Saint Louis University–Medical Outreach Missions Fellowship Initiative, District 301-C LEO Clubs, University of Baguio School of Dentistry, Philippine Dental Association–Baguio, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Baguio-Benguet Chapter and LGU Bokod. Political Science students and student council officers helped deliver a medical mission, dental services and free legal aid.
August 2025. Project H.E.L.E.N., led by the Society of Junior Entrepreneurs of the College of Business Administration with the University Student Council, Occupational Safety and Health and the Emergency Response Volunteers, delivered 40 food packs and 14 emergency signaling devices to members of the Blessed Community of Persons with Disability (BCPDI) in Tuba, with a hands-on orientation on using the devices.
August 16, 2025. Level 4 nursing students volunteered at PUSO’s Community Medical Mission and Family Wellness Fair in Quezon Hill Proper, held with the Cordilleras Association of Healthcare Professionals, the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine, the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians and the Philippine Medical Women’s Association, with a blood donation drive led by the Philippine Red Cross.
September 12, 2025. For National CPR Day, the Philippine Red Cross Benguet Chapter and fourth-year nursing students assisted CPR training and delivered tuberculosis and HIV lectures to high school students at Bineng High School, La Trinidad.
Research Programmes
June to August 4, 2025. Architecture students, guided by Project H.E.L.E.N., conducted an ocular visit and coordination meeting with BCPDI at the Maharlika Livelihood Center and developed barrier-free, research-informed concept plans for an accessible massage therapy stall, presented on August 4 (SDG 10, SDG 11).
July 18, 2025. Architecture students presented a development proposal for the FURVENT Animal Rescue and Advocacy Sanctuary, developed after a site inspection, with additional cages, staff and reception areas, and upgraded drainage and septic systems, in line with the Animal Welfare Act (SDG 15).
September 20–26, 2025. Architecture students co-created designs for community spaces in seven Baguio barangays with members of KALIPI, facilitators from TAO-Pilipinas and mentors from United Architects of the Philippines chapters. KALIPI promotes women’s livelihood and empowerment programs in 91 of Baguio’s 128 barangays (SDG 5, SDG 11).
Development of Educational Resources
January 16 to February 13, 2025. Three College of Business Administration faculty completed the Wadhwani Faculty Development Program, an intensive online training on teaching entrepreneurship. Two earned full certification as Wadhwani Ignite Educators, with awards for academic excellence and outstanding facilitation, strengthening the tools UC uses to teach entrepreneurship (Indicators 4.4.1, 8.3.1 and 17.17.1).
SDG Alignment
| SDG | Indicator or target | How UC’s 2025 initiatives align |
| 3 – Good Health and Well-Being | HIV prevention, access to care | Medical missions, HIV education and testing, and blood drives with Balay Marvi, FPOP, PUSO and the Philippine Red Cross. |
| 4 – Quality Education | 4.4.1 | CPR and first aid training and the Wadhwani program built practical skills. |
| 10, 11 – Reduced Inequalities; Sustainable Cities | Accessibility and inclusive spaces | Designs for BCPDI and KALIPI promoted barrier-free, inclusive community spaces. |
| 15 – Life on Land | Animal welfare | The FURVENT proposal supported humane animal care. |
| 17 – Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17 | Student volunteers and NGOs delivered shared outcomes. |
References:
CAS: Care and Share — Community Extension Program in Barangay Pito, Bokod, Benguet – CAS @UC. (2025, July 14). https://cas.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/07/14/%f0%9d%90%82%f0%9d%90%80%f0%9d%90%92-%f0%9d%90%82%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9e-%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%9d-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%a1%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9e/
HIV Awareness Seminar: Promoting Education, Prevention, and Reducing Stigma – CONAHS @UC. (2025, February 11). https://conahs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/02/11/hiv-awareness-seminar-promoting-education-prevention-and-reducing-stigma/
Irisan Waste Collectors Equipped with Lifesaving Skills, Received Safety Kits, Through UC-Led Outreach – WEB @UC. (2025, June 16). https://web.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/06/16/%F0%9D%90%88%F0%9D%90%AB%F0%9D%90%A2%F0%9D%90%AC%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%A7-%F0%9D%90%96%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%AC%F0%9D%90%AD%F0%9D%90%9E-%F0%9D%90%82%F0%9D%90%A8%F0%9D%90%A5%F0%9D%90%A5%F0%9D%90%9E/
Promoting inclusivity and awareness: SUMIKOM’s Pride Month Program – GSWC @UC. (2025, June 30). https://gswc.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/06/30/promoting-inclusivity-and-awareness-sumikoms-pride-month-program/
UC-Architecture Students Advance Community-CEntered Design for Furvent Animal Shelter – CAFA @UC. (2025, July 28). https://cafa.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/07/28/uc-architecture-students-advance-community-centered-design-for-furvent-animal-shelter/
UC-Architecture Students Design Accessible Massage Stall for Persons with Disabilities – CAFA @UC. (2025, August 22). https://cafa.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/08/22/uc-architecture-students-design-accessible-massage-stall-for-persons-with-disabilities/
UC-CAFA Architecture Students Collaborate with KALIPI in PAAAF 2025 Community-Centered Planning and Design Workshop – CAFA @UC. (2025b, October 14). https://cafa.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/10/14/uc-architecture-students-collaborate-with-kalipi-in-community-centered-planning-and-design-workshop/
UC CON conducts annual Nursing Care outreach program as part of its 9th Communidad Celebration – CONAHS @UC. (2025, April 29). https://conahs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/04/29/uc-con-conducts-annual-nursing-care-outreach-program-as-part-of-its-9th-communidad-celebration/
UC CON Level 2 students participate in 19th PUSO Community Medical Mission – CONAHS @UC. (2025, March 8). https://conahs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/03/08/uc-con-level-2-students-participate-in-19th-puso-community-medical-mission/
UC Faculty Complete Wadhwani Faculty Development Program: Advancing Entrepreneurship Education and Innovation – CBA @UC. (2025, April 16). https://cba.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/04/16/faculty-members-of-the-college-of-business-administration-complete-wadhwani-faculty-development-program-supporting-sdg-4/
UC Level 4 nursing students join free community medical Mission in Quezon Hill Proper – CONAHS @UC. (2025, August 18). https://conahs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/08/18/uc-level-4-nursing-students-join-free-community-medical-mission-in-quezon-hill-proper/
UC Nursing Students and PRC Benguet Chapter Mark National CPR Day with Training and Health Lectures at Bineng High School – CoNAHS @UC. (2025, September 15). https://conahs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/09/15/uc-nursing-students-and-prc-benguet-chapter-mark-national-cpr-day-with-training-and-health-lectures-at-bineng-high-school/
UC Relief Operation extends lifesaving support to BCPDI members in Tuba – CBA @UC. (2025, September 16). https://cba.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/09/16/uc-relief-operation-extends-lifesaving-support-to-bcpdi-members-in-tuba/
