Submissions

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Author Guidelines

Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies, the official peer-reviewed publication of the Kapalong College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology (KCAST), invites submissions of original research articles, review papers, case studies, policy analyses, and community narratives that align with its mission of transformative and inclusive development. To ensure a streamlined editorial process, authors must adhere to the following guidelines. All manuscripts must follow the APA (American Psychological Association) 7th Edition formatting style.

1. Submission Process

  • Manuscripts must be submitted electronically via the Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies submission portal on the official journal website.

  • Manuscripts should be written in clear, formal English or Filipino.

  • Submissions must be original, unpublished works not currently under consideration by another publication.

  • Authors are encouraged to ensure their work addresses issues of social relevance, community engagement, or sustainable progress, in line with the journal's scope.

2. Manuscript Preparation

2.1. General Formatting

  • Document Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).

  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point.

  • Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.

  • Line Spacing: Double-spaced throughout, including abstract, text, and references.

  • Page Numbers: Sequential numbers in the upper right corner of each page.

2.2. Structure of the Manuscript

  • Title Page: A separate file containing the manuscript title, full name(s) of author(s), institutional affiliation(s), and complete contact details (including email and ORCID iD if available). Clearly indicate the corresponding author.

  • Abstract: A single paragraph of 150-250 words summarizing the research problem, methodology, key findings, and implications.

  • Keywords: 4-6 keywords or short phrases.

  • Main Text: Organized logically with clear headings (e.g., Introduction, Methodology, Results and Discussion, Conclusion, Recommendations). Subheadings are encouraged for clarity.

  • Acknowledgments (Optional): Include funding sources or significant contributions.

  • References: List all cited works alphabetically by author's last name, following APA 7th Edition guidelines.

  • Appendices (If applicable): Place supplementary material after the references.

3. Citation and References

3.1. APA 7th Edition Format

  • In-text Citations: Use the author-date method (e.g., Cruz, 2023). For direct quotes, include the page number (e.g., Dela Cruz, 2023, p. 15).

  • Reference List: Comprehensive list of all works cited, formatted precisely as per APA 7th Edition.

3.2. Examples of Common Reference Formats

  • Journal Article:
    Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), page range. DOI or URL
    Example:
    Torres, L., & Mangaoang, E. (2022). Indigenous soil conservation practices in Manobo farming systems. Philippine Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 10(1), 45-67. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/yyyy

  • Book:
    Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book (Edition). Publisher.
    Example:
    Santos, R. M. (2021). Community-based entrepreneurship in Mindanao. University of the Philippines Press.

  • Chapter in an Edited Book:
    Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the chapter. In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of the book (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.
    Example:
    Dizon, J. P. (2020). Oral histories and environmental knowledge. In M. L. Fernandez & G. H. Tan (Eds.), Decolonizing research in the Philippines (pp. 112-130). Ateneo de Manila University Press.

  • Government or Institutional Report:
    Organization Name. (Year). Title of the report (Report No. if applicable). Publisher. URL
    Example:
    Department of Agriculture - Region XI. (2023). Annual report on crop resilience initiatives in Davao Region. https://www.da11.ph/documents/2023_resilience.pdf

  • Conference Paper:
    Author, A. A. (Year, Month). Title of the paper [Paper presentation]. Conference Name, City, Country. URL if available
    Example:
    Lim, S. K. (2023, October). Integrating appropriate technology in rural STEM education [Paper presentation]. National Conference on Educational Innovation, Cebu City, Philippines.

4. Figures and Tables

  • Figures/Images: Number sequentially (Figure 1, Figure 2). Include a descriptive caption below the figure. Submit in high-resolution .jpeg, .png, or .tiff formats and ensure they are embedded in the text at appropriate points.

  • Tables: Number sequentially (Table 1, Table 2). Provide a concise title above the table. Ensure tables are editable (created in Word, not as images).

  • All figures and tables must be cited in the main text.

5. Peer Review Process

  • All manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process, where identities of authors and reviewers are concealed.

  • The editorial decision may be: Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, or Reject.

  • The review process typically takes 8-10 weeks. Authors are expected to submit revisions within the stipulated timeframe.

6. Copyright and Permissions

  • Upon acceptance, authors will grant Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies a license to publish.

  • All published articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free sharing and adaptation with proper attribution.

  • Authors retain copyright of their work.

7. Ethics and Integrity

  • Pamulingan Journal upholds the highest standards of publication ethics, aligned with COPE guidelines.

  • Plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and duplicate submission are strictly prohibited. Manuscripts will be screened using plagiarism detection software.

  • For research involving human participants (especially within indigenous communities), authors must include a statement on informed consent and approval from a relevant ethics review board.

8. Contact Information
For inquiries regarding submissions or manuscript preparation, please contact the Editorial Office at: 

Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies
Kapalong College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology (KCAST)
Purok 6, Poblacion, Kapalong, Davao del Norte 8113, Philippines

Submission Preparation Checklist

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format.
  • Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
  • The text is single-spaced; uses a 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
  • The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.

Articles

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Copyright Notice

By submitting a manuscript to Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies, authors agree to the following terms:

Copyright and Licensing: Authors retain the copyright to their work. By accepting publication, they grant Kapalong College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology (KCAST) an exclusive license to publish the article in Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies and make it publicly available. The article will be published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. This license allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, even commercially, provided the original authorship is credited to the author(s) and the journal.

Author Warranties: Authors warrant that:

  1. The manuscript is their original work and does not infringe any existing copyright.

  2. It is not under consideration elsewhere and has not been published previously in any form.

  3. All co-authors have approved the submission and publication.

  4. The work contains no libelous or unlawful statements.

Rights of the Journal: KCAST and Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies retain the right to:

  1. Edit, format, and prepare the work for publication and distribution.

  2. Archival and preservation in any medium or format.

  3. Include the work in indexing and abstracting services.

By agreeing to these terms, authors ensure their research contributes to the journal's mission of open knowledge sharing and transformative impact.

Privacy Statement

The Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies, the official peer-reviewed publication of the Kapalong College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology (KCAST), is committed to protecting the privacy and security of the personal data of our authors, reviewers, editors, and website visitors. This Privacy Statement outlines how we collect, use, store, and disclose your information in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) of the Philippines and other applicable data protection principles.

Collection and Use of Personal Data

We collect personal information solely for the purpose of managing our journal’s operations. This includes the manuscript submission system, the peer-review process, editorial workflows, and communication with our community. The data collected may include your name, institutional affiliation, academic credentials, contact details, and other relevant information necessary for publication and academic exchange.

Specifically, your personal data is used for:

  • User account registration and management in our journal system.

  • Facilitating the editorial and double-blind peer-review process.

  • Communicating with you regarding your submission, review tasks, and editorial decisions.

  • Sending official journal announcements, such as publication notifications and calls for papers.

  • Maintaining the scholarly record and for internal administrative purposes.

Data Storage and Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Access to personal data is restricted to authorized journal editorial staff, involved editors, and assigned reviewers on a need-to-know basis.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies does not sell, trade, or rent your personal identification information to third parties. We will not disclose your personal data without your explicit consent, except in the following circumstances:

  • For the Peer-Review Process: Necessary information (e.g., manuscript title, abstract) is shared with editors and reviewers, while maintaining the confidentiality of author identities in our double-blind review system.

  • For Publication: Upon acceptance, your name, affiliation, and contact details (as you provide) will be published with your article.

  • Legal Compliance: When disclosure is required by law or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the journal, its users, or the public.

Your Rights

In accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right to Access: You may request information about the personal data we hold about you.

  • Right to Rectification: You may request the correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.

  • Right to Erasure: You may request the deletion of your personal data, subject to certain legal and archival obligations of the journal.

  • Right to Object: You may object to the processing of your personal data for specific purposes.

  • Right to Data Portability: You may request a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used format.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, to comply with our legal and archival obligations, and to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record. Data associated with rejected manuscripts is retained for a reasonable period for audit purposes before being securely disposed of.

Updates to this Privacy Statement

Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies reserves the right to update this Privacy Statement periodically to reflect changes in our practices or for legal and regulatory reasons. The latest version will always be posted prominently on our journal website. Registered users will be notified of any material changes.

Contact Information

For any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Statement or the management of your personal data, please contact the Editorial Office at:

Pamulingan: KCAST Journal of Natural and Cultural Studies
Kapalong College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology (KCAST)
Purok 6, Poblacion, Kapalong, Davao del Norte 8113, Philippines
Email: pamulingan.journal@kcast.edu.ph