Sustainability in Focus: EVSU Benchmarks SLSU’s UI GreenMetric Leadership
The first leg of SALIG (Shared Appreciation and Learning for Institutional Growth) convened Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) and Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) on February 11, 2026, for a focused exchange on sustainability systems anchored on the UI GreenMetric framework. Spearheaded by the University Quality Assurance Office (UQAO), the engagement marked the formal launch of a series of benchmarking initiatives under SALIG which is framed as a platform for honest knowledge exchange, sharing both strengths and challenges.
Dr. Francis Ann R. Sy emphasized that benchmarking is about institutional growth, not comparison, and that sustainability at SLSU is embedded across instruction, research, extension, and operations. The tone was clear: sustainability must be system-driven and measurable.
SLSU’s UI GreenMetric journey was presented by Ms. Reinelly Faith Gomba with emphasis on how institutional initiatives are systematically aligned with key categories. The discussion highlighted concrete campus practices and also acknowledged operational realities. Challenges such as consolidating data across multiple campuses, meeting documentation requirements, and ensuring consistent policy implementation were openly discussed, reinforcing that meaningful participation in UI GreenMetric requires coordinated systems and sustained institutional discipline.
The EVSU delegation, led by their Vice President for Internationalization and External Affairs, Dr. Analyn C. Españo, and Research Director Prof. Bernard Niño Q. Membrebe, raised practical questions on submission timelines, documentation formats, data management, and strengthening weak indicators. Dr. James Brian Flores of the UQAO clarified the coordinating role of the office in ensuring alignment, verification, and systematic reporting.
By the end of the exchange, the conversation shifted from inquiry to intention. EVSU expressed its readiness to pursue participation in the UI GreenMetric ranking and its desire for continued guidance. As the first SALIG leg, the activity set the tone for sustained collaboration—grounded in systems thinking, accountability, and shared commitment to sustainable institutional growth.
The visit concluded with a brief walking tour of the Sogod Campus, facilitated by Mr. Leo A. Omamalin of the University Planning and Development Office, who guided the EVSU delegation through key facilities and sustainability-related initiatives across the campus. This benchmarking engagement also contributes to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Moreover, it reinforces Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles by strengthening sustainability governance structures, promoting environmental stewardship, and fostering transparent, collaborative institutional partnerships.
