MMSU eyed as nat'l coco, bamboo nursery sites

By Reynaldo E. Andres

Contributor

The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) is now the focus of attention of the national government because of its reputable and vast expertise in agricultural research.

As proof, several government officials, in coordination with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), have agreed to make MMSU as the lead agency in producing 1 million of coconut seedlings which will be planted in strategic places in the country.

Aside from the PCA, the MMSU shall also tie-up with the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) and the ABAKADA Party List (APL) group headed by Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz for the further expansion of the bamboo industry.

In a coordination meeting on November 23, 2013 at the FEM Conference Room, Dela Cruz said MMSU shall be the lead agency of the project which is jointly supported by the APL, Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and Governors Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos of Ilocos Norte and Ryan Luis Singson of Ilocos Sur.

To start, the university is tasked to propagate some 30,000 coconut seedlings in six strategic sites in Batac, Currimao, and Dingras campuses. 

“Our target is 650,000 coconut seedlings from MMSU and 350,000 seedlings from the Cagayan State University (CSU) which is also one of the sites of the nursery project,” Dela Cruz said.

Dr. Prima Fe R. Franco, MMSU vice president for research and extension said the university will do its best to propagate the needed coconut seedlings that are ready to be transplanted at the onset of the rainy season. That is, if PCA is swift enough to bring in the needed plantation requirements next month.

Gen. Nestor Sadiarin who joined the group discussion also assured his help in propagating coconut seedlings in Mt. Banahaw, Aurora in Quezon Province and in Cagayan where the open pollinated variety of coconut abounds.

“We have existing memorandum of understanding with CSU and the Ifugao State University for the production of additional seedlings and nurseries,” he said adding that at P30 per seed nut, the whole composite project areas have an allotted budget of more than P30 million.

On the other hand, Dela Cruz assured support to MMSU in expanding the mandate of its Bamboo Development Project in terms of production and commercialization.

Aside from the Engineered Kawayan (E-Kawayan) products that MMSU are now producing, Dela Cruz has challenged those taking the lead to produce bicycles made of bamboo. This, he said, would attract the attention of manufacturers of aesthetic products that would invade the global market.

Anent to this, the party list representative is planning to put up another E-Kawayan factory in Ilocos Norte which is similar to the one put up by the Alaminos City government through Mayor Hernani Braganza.

“All these projects shall be presented to the members of the MMSU board of regents in their December meeting to formalize the start of everything that have been planned,” he said.