“Soksay sa Barangay, Barangay sa Soksay” is the umbrella program of the Department of Social Sciences that aims to strengthen the partnership of the department and the local communities of Southern Luzon by providing a lineup of services anchored on the strength and identity of the department. It is a give and take relationship where the department responds to calls of local communities by providing them assistance on their needs and problems (Soksay sa Barangay), while the communities also visit the department and the university to share their knowledge to the younger generation in the hopes of sparking interest, discourse, understanding, and appreciation of the condition and heritage of each locality (Barangay sa Soksay). 

The umbrella program is composed of three programs: 1.) Heritage Documentation, 2.) Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, and 3.) Psychological First-Aid Facilitation.

Heritage Documentation

The Heritage Documentation Program includes training for the LGUs on cultural mapping by the DSS faculty; additional assistance such as mapping, further interviews, and analysis; establishment of a Heritage Collection housed in the DSS; creation of a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Inventory for Heritage Sites of partner communities; and coordination with cultural bearers for workshops for UPLB students and other interested participants. 

Cultural Mapping ‘Full/Block’ Training

The Cultural Mapping Full Training includes the documentation of all types of heritage properties based on the forms utilized by the National Commission for Cultural and the Arts (NCCA) and the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).