The College of Computing of Pangasinan State University – Urdaneta City Campus, in partnership with the Local Government Unit of the City of Alaminos, conducted its first major activity entitled Data Collection Mechanisms for Field Interviewers of Alaminos City Health Workers on July 12, 2021 at the Alaminos City Auditorium as part of their research and extension partnership collaboration. The activity aimed to train the Barangay Health Workers on how to properly gather data to determine the satisfaction of the citizens of Alaminos City in the programs that they deliver to their constituents. Ultimately, the research and extension programs of PSU aims to improve the services that local government units provide to their citizens.
The Pangasinan State University delegation was composed of 16 faculty members of the College of Computing, headed by Dr. Frederick F. Patacsil, Dean of the College of Computing. The event was attended by LGU Alaminos personnel, headed by City Mayor Hon. Arth Bryan Celeste, Head of the City Planning and Development Office Engr. Eduardo Garcia, Unit Heads of LGU Alaminos, and 81 Barangay Health Workers from 39 barangays that will act as enumerators during the upcoming activities of PSU and LGU-Alaminos City.
The program started with messages from the different representatives of both PSU and LGU Alaminos. Mr. Emmerson Ramir España, Campus Extension Coordinator of PSU Urdaneta Campus, welcomed all participants in the said event. Dr. Frederick Patacsil gave a welcome message to inspire all participants in taking part in the noble endeavors of the municipality. Engr. Eduardo Garcia, representing Hon. Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste, gave a message to all participants emphasizing the importance of the event and thanked PSU for the services rendered to the City.
Mr. Bobby Roaring, Head of the Center for Statistics and Computing Sciences, delivered the purpose of the extension training and shared to the trainees the expectations of both PSU and LGU-Alaminos City in the said activity. He then discussed the projected timeline of activities, sampling method, data gathering procedure, and other things to remember regarding the data gathering for the upcoming research and extension activities.
This was followed by a discussion by Mr. Andhee Jacobe, faculty of the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department, to discuss the data gathering instrument / questionnaire to be used by the Barangay Health Workers to determine the awareness, availment, and satisfaction of Alaminos City citizens.
After the discussion of the data gathering instrument, Mr. Arni-Rie Tamayo, faculty of the Information Technology Department, showed and demonstrated the use of the data gathering tool to be used by the Barangay Health Workers in the activities to follow. The software to be used was developed by the Information Technology Department to make the data gathering easier to retrieve and for the instrument to be more technology-based. Tablets from PSU installed with the program will be borrowed by the Barangay Health Workers for the said activity.
This was immediately followed by the training of the different Barangay Health Workers in the use of the software. Faculty members of the College of Computing took turns coaching groups of Barangay Health Workers, answering questions regarding the activity, as well as giving advice on how to conduct data gathering. This ends the morning session.
During the afternoon session, the different unit heads of the Alaminos City LGU took turns discussing the different programs of the municipality to its citizens. This is to make sure that the Barangay Health Workers are aware of the different programs of the City Government during the interview process and to ensure that the gathered data from the respondents are accurate.
City Mayor Hon. Arth Bryan Celeste graced the event with his presence and gave an inspiring message to all the participants. He emphasized the importance of constructive criticism and how this constructive criticisms can help the City of Alaminos in developing better policies and programs for the betterment of lives of its citizens. He also thanked PSU in its efforts to help LGU Alaminos in gathering data from its citizens to best improve their practices. After his message, a plaque of recognition was given to the City Mayor to give acknowledgment and appreciation in his support of research and extension of activities.
After the discussion by the different unit heads, Ms. Kristen Bhing Salvio, Head of the Data Analytics Centers, formally closed the program by thanking all participants of the said event.