The Negros Oriental State University, through the College of Arts and Sciences and the University Library, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) today, May 19, 2026, with Barangay Junob for the Barangay Reading Enrichment and Access for Development (BREAD) Project at the Junob Barangay Hall, Dumaguete City.

The project is an extension initiative that aims to establish and operationalize a Community Reading Center in the barangay. It seeks to provide children with a safe, accessible, and child-friendly space where they can develop stronger reading habits through books, storytelling, reading circles, read-aloud sessions, reading games, and other literacy enrichment activities. The project also includes volunteer and parent orientation, supervised reading center sessions, monitoring of reading engagement, and a simple borrowing and usage system for reading materials.

Present during the MOA signing were Dr. Guilbert Nicanor Atillo, University Extension Director; Dr. Colette O. Abequibel, University Librarian; Dr. Jolo Van Clyde S. Abatayo, Project Leader; and Ms. Relyn T. Tayko, President of the Negros Oriental Librarians Association, together with NORSU librarians. Representing the Barangay Local Government Unit were Hon. Isagani U. Bana, Barangay Captain of Junob, and members of the Barangay Council.

Through this partnership, the project's advocacy of establishing one reading center at a time in Dumaguete City continues as part of its concrete contribution toward helping combat illiteracy and promoting a culture of reading among children.