The Central Luzon Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development Consortium (CLIEERDEC) held its second Governing Board meeting at the City College of Angeles (CCA) in Angeles City, Pampanga, on December 1, 2025.
In her message, CLIEERDEC Chairperson and Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) President Dr. Rhodora Jugo recognized the collective work behind the consortium’s progress. “CLIEERDEC has achieved so much, not because of one team, not because of one project, but because of every single committee, every member who gave his or her time and energy,” she said. She added that the consortium’s success also comes from “teamwork, grit, creativity, coffee, and lots of coffee.”
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Director and CLIEERDEC Vice Chairperson Dr. Julius Caesar Sicat urged members to continue strengthening research efforts. “We have to live up to our name. We have to look at potentials, look at the future, and prepare our country, if not our region, for any eventuality,” he said. He encouraged members to promote the consortium in various platforms, adding, “Iwagayway po natin ang pangalan ng CLIEERDEC… We will showcase the capabilities and research output of the HEIs and RDIs of the Philippines.”
As host institution, CCA Officer-in-Charge President Dr. Jenneth Sarmiento welcomed participants and noted the value of the partnership. “It is a commitment to strengthening research capacity, accelerating innovation, and ensuring that breakthroughs uplift communities. For CCA, this partnership opens new opportunities for collaboration, capability building, and wider engagement,” she said.
Before the meeting, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed formalizing the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) and CCA as new members of the consortium. PMMA was represented by Superintendent Commodore Joel Abutal, while CCA was represented by Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II, Chair of the institution’s Board of Trustees. Dr. Jugo signed on behalf of CLIEERDEC, with Dr. Sicat and Consortium Director Dr. Marilene Hipolito serving as witnesses.
Mayor Lazatin expressed CCA’s full support for the partnership by affirming that the collaboration represents a shared commitment to advancing research, innovation, and emerging technologies for regional development, adding that CCA is prepared to take an active role in CLIEERDEC initiatives.
Commodore Abutal stated that the consortium is timely and strategic for PMMA as it supports the institution’s goal of developing specialized maritime education and localized solutions that align technological advancement with regional educational and entrepreneurial needs.
After welcoming the two new member institutions, the Governing Board proceeded with discussions on committee reports, updates on the Institution Research Readiness Level Assessment, endorsement of proposals from the November research writeshop, and the approval of the 2026 Annual Plan, calendar of activities, and special order.
Thirteen of the consortium’s 23 member institutions and agencies attended the meeting, including Aurora State College of Technology, Bataan Peninsula State University, Bulacan State University, Central Luzon State University, NEUST, Pampanga State Agricultural University, Pampanga State University, President Ramon Magsaysay State University, the DOST Regional Office (RO) III, the Department of Budget and Management RO III, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development RO III, CCA, and PMMA.
The consortium announced that the first Governing Board meeting for 2026 will be hosted by DOST Regional Office III in June 2026.
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