SLSU–San Juan Kicks Off Project SUMAKSES for SLPAs

Southern Leyte State University–San Juan Campus formally jumpstarted an extension initiative titled “Strengthening the University’s Mission through Advancing Knowledge-Based Support for Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) toward Entrepreneurial Success (Project SUMAKSES)” with the implementation of its first activity, “Bookkeeping Made Easy: A Practical Guide for SLPAs,” conducted on December 17, 2025, at the ABC Hall, Sogod, Southern Leyte. The project is proposed by Dr. Melvin S. Sarsale, in collaboration with the Accountancy Department, and is designed to run for three years as part of the campus’s sustained commitment to inclusive and community-responsive development.

 

SLPAs, organized under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, serve as key platforms for grassroots economic empowerment, particularly among marginalized and vulnerable sectors. Recognizing the persistent challenges many SLPAs face in financial management, organizational sustainability, and entrepreneurial readiness, Project SUMAKSES was conceptualized to provide research-informed, knowledge-based support through structured training, mentoring, and technical assistance, beginning with practical bookkeeping as a foundational skill for enterprise management.

 

Through its initial activity and subsequent interventions, the project aims to capacitate at least 50 percent of male and female participants to improve the management of their SLPAs-based enterprises, promote the adoption of effective business methods among at least 20 percent of participants, and augment participants' income by at least 10 percent. As part of the university’s social responsibility, extension projects like Project SUMAKSES allow faculty and students to give back to the communities they serve. By leveraging the expertise of the Accountancy Department, the initiative strengthens the university’s mandate in extension, research application, and social innovation while fostering sustainable university–community partnerships that contribute to resilient local economies.

 

The activity is aligned with and contributes to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), reflecting its integrated approach to social inclusion, equitable development, and collaborative action.