On March 21, 2024, the UPLB-BIOMECH team visited the Jose Rizal Memorial State University in Tampilisan (JRMSU-Tampilisan Campus), Zamboanga Del Norte. The team was led by Engr. Ronnie C. Valencia, (Engineer II) and Engr. John Paul G. Tobias (Project Technical Assistant III). The purpose of the visit was to discuss the “Compendium of Developed Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization in the Philippines” project funded by DOST-PCAARRD and explore possible collaboration between UPLB and JRMSU through an MOU.
Zamboanga Peninsula is one of the major coconut producers in the Philippines. In addition to other agricultural and fisheries mechanization technologies, the JRMSU-Tampilisan Campus is developing various mechanization technologies related to coconut processing. The research and development efforts of higher education institutions and state universities and colleges play a vital role in developing modern machinery to reduce the mechanization gap in the country.
The team began their visit with a courtesy call at the Administration Building to meet with Dr. Merlyn N. Luza (Campus Administrator), along with Prof. Yhebron J. Lagud (Unit Head for Research) and Engr. Karlfred Junnee A. Doydora (Associate Dean of the School of Engineering). During the meeting, they introduced and discussed the Compendium project, which will serve as a detailed catalog of agricultural and fisheries technologies in the country. The compendium was also envisioned to aid in the promotion of the technologies they have developed. They also highlighted the importance of the MOU, explaining that it will help facilitate faster communication between UPLB and JRMSU, and enable smooth implementation of future projects and collaborations.
To know more information about the project, visit https://biomech.ceat.uplb.edu.ph/news/uplb-biomech-with-dost-pcaarrd-jumpstarts-compendium-of-developed-agri-fisheries-mechanization-technologies-in-the-philippines-project/ .
(John Paul G. Tobias)