The Publication Unit is under the Research and Development (R&D) Division and led by the Deputy Director for Publications. Essentially vital to the scientific career advancement of the researcher is scientific productivity, via intellectual contributions to the advancement of one’s field of interest and eventually transmitted in written form. It generates public awareness on the R&D undertaken by the university. Hence, the publication is deemed as a major output of a researcher in dissemination.

Essentially vital to the scientific career advancement of the researcher is scientific productivity, via intellectual contributions to the advancement of one’s  field of interest and eventually transmitted in  written form. It generates public awareness  on the R&D undertaken by the university.  Hence, the publication is deemed as a major  output of a researcher in dissemination.

The university began focusing seriously on sharing research in 1983. Back then, the Research and Extension Divisions saw the need to record the work done by the faculty. This led to the creation of the University’s first journal, named The Fruit Bowl.

True to its name, the journal reflected what the university was best at: agriculture, forestry, and natural resources. For ten years, it was the home for small-scale studies on farming and economics. It helped researchers take their first steps in publishing their fieldwork.

However, as the University grew and started teaching more than just agriculture, it needed a broader platform. In December 1994, The Fruit Bowl was replaced by the Southeastern Philippines Journal of Research and Development (SPJRD). This change showed that the institution was ready to look at development from a wider perspective, not just through farming.

Today, the SPJRD is an international, open-access journal that reviews work from many different fields. It serves as a keeper of important knowledge, specifically addressing the needs of Mindanao and the wider ASEAN region.

The journal is a key place for urgent discussions. It covers topics like climate change, energy security, and sustainable farming. It also strongly supports research on Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) of Mindanao. This ensures that the stories and realities of the region’s original inhabitants are properly recorded and respected.

Research needs to reach people outside of the university to truly change lives. Recognizing this, the Publication Unit embraced the digital age. In 2019, under Editor-in-Chief Christopher C. Gonzales and Associate Editor Cecirly G. Puig, the journal went online. This allowed authors from all over the world to submit their work easily.

Current Editor-in-Chief Sajed S. Ingilan, who has served since 2020, continued this path of new ideas. In November 2020, the unit launched a podcast. This evolved into “SPJRD Talks” in 2021, a monthly forum where scholars could discuss their findings. This bridged the gap between scientists and the public, making complex research easier to understand.

The commitment to high standards—upheld by editors and international reviewers—has led to huge success. The years 2023 to 2025 were major turning points for the journal’s global standing.

• January 2023: Recognized by the Andrew Gonzales Philippine Citation Index.
• September 2023: Accepted into Scopus, the world’s largest database of trusted research literature.
• June 2024: Included in the ASEAN Citation Index (ACI), a central list for top-quality research in the region.
• March 2025: Secured a Q2 (Second Quartile) ranking in the Scimago Journal & Country Rank (SJR), claiming the top spot for multidisciplinary journals in the Philippines and ranking third across all subject areas nationwide.

With issues from 2021 onwards now included in Scopus, the SPJRD is now a leading voice in sharing research. The SPJRD has proven to be an essential partner in this. By turning local studies into globally recognized knowledge, the journal does more than just print papers; it helps launch programs that improve lives.

From its start as a collection of farming abstracts to its current status as a Scopus-indexed journal, the SPJRD continues to grow. It remains dedicated to its mission: to promote excellence and drive development across the ASEAN region and the world.