MLQU Signs MOA with Barangay Commonwealth, the Most Populous Barangay in the Country, for Research and Community Engagement Partnership

In its continuing commitment to serve the broader community through academic excellence and civic responsibility, Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) has entered into a formal partnership with Barangay Commonwealth in Quezon City, the largest barangay in the country in terms of population, through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on July 11, 2025.

The MOA outlines the joint undertaking between MLQU and Barangay Commonwealth to promote research-based community engagement initiatives, beginning with a comprehensive needs assessment of the barangay. This assessment will guide the implementation of targeted programs that respond to the specific developmental priorities of the community.

The agreement was signed by MLQU Executive Vice President Lucille P. Ortile and Barangay Captain Manuel A. Co, with officials from both parties in attendance. The event was also witnessed by Dean Leonila J. Generales, head of the MLQU School of Business and concurrent Head of the Extension Services Office, and Atty. Keith Cipriano, Assistant Extensionist and Program Coordinator of the BS Legal Management program.

The initiative builds upon an existing partnership between MLQU and the barangay’s Gender and Development Unit, where the university — through the School of Business — is currently conducting training for housewives on how to start and manage small businesses. This livelihood-focused program is one of many upcoming activities under the formalized collaboration.

“We believe that research should not be confined to the classroom,” said EVP Ortile. “It should translate into concrete, people-centered solutions. This partnership with Barangay Commonwealth enables our faculty and students to co-create meaningful impact with the community while applying their knowledge in real-world settings.”

For his part, Barangay Captain Manuel A. Co expressed optimism and gratitude: “We are honored to work with MLQU in building more responsive programs for our constituents. With the help of the university, we hope to better understand the needs of our residents and roll out sustainable, evidence-based interventions — especially in areas such as livelihood, education, urban planning and youth development.”

The partnership between MLQU and Barangay Commonwealth reflects the university’s broader mission to shape nation-builders and ensure that academic institutions play a vital role in uplifting communities at the grassroots level. Plans are underway to expand the engagement into other focus areas including environmental awareness, youth education, and legal literacy.