Isabela State University (ISU) through its Echague Campus has partnered with the Municipality of Echague for a comprehensive research and extension program on establishing a Local Government Unit (LGU) Center for Yogad Studies.

Through the initiative of the College of Arts and Sciences – Languages and Literature Department headed by Dr. Ma. Theresa Eustaquio (Department Chair and Project Leader), the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was attended by officials from both ISU and LGU Echague represented by Dr. Boyet Batang (Vice President, Academic Affairs) and Hon. Francis Faustino “Kiko” A. Dy (Municipal Mayor, Echague).

Also in attendance during the MOA signing were Dr. Jose Gallena, Jr. (Executive Officer, Echague Campus), Dr. Hilda Manzolim (Faculty Regent), Dr. Mila Andres (University Director, Extension and Training), and Dr. Juanito Tandoc, Jr. (Dean, College of Arts and Sciences).

According to Dr. Eustaquio, the extension program was conceptualized in order to address concerns within the social linguistic community of the Yogads. The said community are concentrated around Echague and are living with the Ilocano-Ibanag people of the Cagayan Valley lowlands.

Aside from establishing a center, expected outputs from the program include the preservation and revitalization of the Yogad language, literature, and culture due to the low numbers of published articles and research centering on Yogad heritage.

“So this is our way to help our community para makita ng younger generation na napaka-importante mag-preserve ng language, ng culture, ng literature ng Yogad kasi kung mawawala yun, mawawalan sila ng identity,” Dr. Eustaquio shared in a recorded interview with LGU Echague.