COPAR-guided community engagement strengthens rural health training
December 15, 2025
The University of the Cordilleras College of Nursing (UC-CON) formally forged a partnership with the Local Government Unit of Bauko through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on December 15, 2025, held in Bauko, Mountain Province. The agreement designates Bauko as a partner community for Community Health Nursing (CHN) immersion, anchored on the Community Organizing Participatory Action Research (COPAR) approach.
The MoA was signed by Hon. Randolf T. Awisan, Municipal Mayor of Bauko, affirming the local government’s support for student engagement in community health initiatives. Also present were key health officials, including Dr. Samuel M. Masidong, Municipal Health Officer, and Ms. Pamela P. Oli, Rural Health Unit (RHU) Nurse, who underscored the value of academic–LGU collaboration in strengthening primary health care delivery.
UC-CON was represented by Dr. Sheila Maria G. Batoon, Level III Coordinator, and Mr. Virgilio Nabus, Faculty Member. They highlighted that the CHN immersion will follow the COPAR phases—from pre-entry and entry to organization-building, consolidation, and sustenance—ensuring that student activities are community-driven, participatory, and responsive to local needs.
Through the COPAR-guided immersion, UC-CON students will engage in community assessment, health education, home visits, and collaboration with the RHU and barangay leaders, fostering culturally sensitive and ethically grounded nursing practice. This hands-on exposure strengthens competencies in community diagnosis, program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
The UC-CON–LGU Bauko partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing socially responsive nurses while advancing public health outcomes in Mountain Province. By integrating COPAR into CHN immersion, the collaboration reinforces sustainable, people-centered healthcare through strong academe–local government synergy.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Alignment
| SDG | Indicator / Focus | UC-CON – LGU Bauko CHN Immersion Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being | Primary health care, health promotion, disease prevention | CHN students support RHU-led programs through community assessment, health education, home visits, and preventive services using COPAR. |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Experiential and competency-based learning | Nursing students apply theory to practice through supervised community immersion, strengthening clinical judgment, leadership, and public health competencies. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Access to basic health services in rural areas | Immersion activities help extend essential health services and education to rural and geographically isolated barangays in Bauko. |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Academe–LGU collaboration | The MoA institutionalizes cooperation between UC-CON and LGU Bauko, integrating education, governance, and health systems for sustainable community outcomes. |
