A first in Northern Philippines: MMSU launches S&T Park

CHED Chair Patricia Licuanan and MMSU President Miriam Pascua marvel at the state-of-the-art ICT equipment being shown by Engr. Wilson Duldulao. (Med Aga)

By Reynaldo E. Andres

Contributor

NEITHER weird nor abstract. Ilocanos and visitors will have better appreciation of science with its actual fruits showcased in this new facility.

A new building that houses state-of-the-art food processing equipment and innovative products in agriculture and other allied sciences was launched last January 6 as part of the highlight of the 37^th foundation anniversary of MMSU. High-ranking government officials led by CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan led the cutting of the ribbon together with Dr. Miriam Pascua, university president. Also in attendance were officials from DOST and DTI, and US-based professors Sergio Caparreda and Fiorello Abenes.

Dubbed Science and Technology (S&T) Park, the building is located alongside the Batac-Paoay road and is mandated to cater to the growing demand for MMSU technologies to be commercialized. It is also serves as venue to transfer basic and applied technologies developed by the university to those who may want to engage into food processing as a business venture.

Since the park serves as venue for development learning experiences for young entrepreneurs, it is expected to help spur socio-economic development as it showcases the technologies being developed by the university and those of private entrepreneurs who are beneficiaries of these technologies.

During its soft launch, visitors had a glimpse on the information booth of the Department of Tourism, the extension and R&D products of MMSU in the fields of microbiology, ceramics, food technology, ICT, and plant products such as horticulture and bonsai plants.

The university’s agriculture group set up booths that showcased processed food products, fresh organic fruits and vegetables, farm inputs such as bio-organic fertilizer and pesticides, and some value-added farm products.

Food products displayed for sale are processed meat, mutton, powdered products, seaweed and fish products, marunggay ice cream, rootcrops; marunggay, dragon fruit, and mango products; organic wines and spirits, soaps, and sweet sorghum products. The Department of Trade is Industry extends assistance in terms of marketing and other business requirements.

The College of Engineering, too, displayed the state-of-the-art ceramic water filter, while the Bamboo Development Project presented its various e-Kawayan products.

Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology in Region 1 (DOST-1) has donated some highly-industrialized equipment for the operation of the Food Innovation Center (FIC), one of the component projects of the S&T Park.

To ensure the smooth operation of the park, DOST Sec. Mario G. Montejo designated Assistant Sec. Ma. Lourdes P. Orijola as its program leader because of her expertise in technology transfer. She has started leading in the commercialization of food and innovative materials produced in MMSU using biological and non-metallic resources found in Ilocos Norte.

DOST ASEC. Ma. Lourdes Orijola tries the naturally fermented Nipa Wine developed by the team of Drs. Fiorello Abenes, Shirley Agrupis, and Roque Ulep. It is funded by USAID-STRIDE. (Med Aga)

Ms. Orijola’s special detail in the university provides overall supervision for the conduct of the S&T Park’s activities in line with the production of community-based products in the countryside for rural empowerment.

Aside from these functions, Ms. Orijola will also lead in the development and implementation of business and marketing strategies; facilitate university-industry interaction for the transfer of advanced technology developed by the university; provide assistance and advice to the project staff for the development, patenting, and marketing of industry-related products and technologies; conduct technology trainings and seminar-workshops for the project leaders and staff; and review materials prepared by the project and study leaders for publication.