MMSU-Extension Directorate’s Information and Technology Caravan (ITC) goes to Don Leopoldo Sison Convention Center, Alaminos City, Pangasinan from September 18-21, 2018 as one of the exhibitors of the Regional Science and Technology Week cum S & T Caravan in Alaminos City.

Themed ‘Innovation for Collective Prosperity’, the RSTW is a convergence of the different line agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), SUCs, organizations, and private companies harnessing science and technology in the agriculture and fisheries sector for collective countryside development. Farmers, fishers, housewives, students, and pupils from the various schools of the locality totalling to 16,772 in just four days visited the booths of the participating agencies that showcased their technologies and innovations along agriculture, fisheries, technology and engineering, and others. Exhibitors from MMSU are Ms. Kimberly Miguel (Extension) and Ms. Christine Quiapo (Research) and from ILAARRDEC are Ms. Love Grace Campano and Mr. Lord Ian Galano.

The MMSU booth highlighted the different technologies developed by the University to include the one-node and pole-per-year technologies on bamboo propagation, seaweeds processing, and the black garlic, the Sukang Iloko, and products of the Food Innovation center (FIC) such as bugnay, dragon fruit, and mango juices, bugnay candy, and mango-tamarind cndy. The booth also continues to be a vehicle of promoting the products of its assisted entrepreneurs such as Ms. Sarah Dabucon’s SCUFYND food products (to include her sought-after rice coffee, soybean coffee, and organic turmeric) and Ms. Mia Soriano’s Lucky Theo’s food products (to include banana and camote chips, and chichacorn). A free cup of the rice coffee and a taste of the different seaweed products and chips are also an added attraction of the booth.

IEC materials on different production and processing technologies were also a highlight in the booth. Teachers and students, farmers and fishers, senior citizens and wives alike were all interested to try these technologies as they find these important and beneficial in their teaching of agriculture, as a production guide in planting various crops, and as an additional reading material on how they can improve their farming. Among the IEC materials distributed, the production guide in bamboo propagation and processing of fish were the most sought after by ruralfolks since these are the technologies they find relevant in their locality, noting that Pangasinan is mostly a fishing community and a bamboo processor (with its partnership with DOST in their E-Kawayan Factory).

The Ilocos Agriculture and Aquatics Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC), an organization of SUCs and government agencies, served as the main umbrella of the University along with its participating member agencies to include the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 1 (BFAR-R1), Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), University of Northern Philippines (UNP), PhilRice-Batac, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) at MMSU. ISPSC showcased their organically-grown salad cherry tomato that is truly a hit among pupils of the different elementary schools along with PCC’s carabao milk products and chicharabao; PhilRice-Batac highlighted their brown rice and materials on rice farming; and UNP showcased its crispy mushroom that comes in various flavours. On aquatics, BFAR-R1 also stirred and engaged the curiosity of the student-visitors through their display of algal culture technologies and magnifying algae through the microscope. A glass of live spirulina for every visitor also earned positive remarks among the visitors noting its positive effects to the body.

To give more of its advancements, services, and programs to the rural people of Pangasinan, DOST also lined up a series of technology training and technology fora along with project site visits. Technology trainings include 1) oyster mushroom processing, 2) peanut butter processing, 3) bottled bangus and tuyo making, 4) basic baking 101, 5) fermented fish (buro) processing, 6) calamansi juice and concentrate processing, 7) pickled vegetable making, and 8) banana, camote, and cassava chips making. These technology trainings are being disseminated to other project areas in view of the active technology adoption of the people due to its available and voluminous resources.

Fora on different technology topics also include 1) Improving the Bamboo Industry (with discussions on bamboo dyeing, preservation and engineered bamboos, and FPRDI's services for forest-based industries); 2) Improving Peanut Production (with discussions on peanut recommended varieties, boron fertilization of peanuts, and peanut seed storage); 3) Agriculture and Aquaculture Productivity ( with discussions on Portable Solar Dryer (PORTASOL), biofertilizers BioGroe and MycoPlus, artificial insemination for goat, mussel long line technology, I.T.I.K. Pinas, and Jovimin Nutriballs for ruminants); 4) Nutritious and Emergency Food Reserve (introducing Iron Rice Remix, Iron Fortified Rice, and Stabilized Brown Rice and Complementary Foods, and ready-to-eat chicken arrozcaldo); 5) Food Industry ( to include salt iodization technologies, salt technologies for food processors, and Food Innovation Center products and services); 6) Waste Management (highlighting ECOSEP, portable biogas digester, dual drum composter, biogas technology, technologies to manage municipal wastes to convert energy, and technologies to manage wastewater from hotels and restaurants along the shore); and Crafts and Furniture Industry (to include resin lamination, fossilized leaves, drum-type charcoal kiln, and flattening machine for tikog/bangkwang).

Visitors at the DLSCC continues to pour as students and pupils of different learning institutions show their support to the celebration. Cheers and yells of excitement are continuously heard from the students as they try the Science Interactive Exhibits showcased by the Philippine Science High School-Ilocos Region Campus. The Van de Gaafft Generator is the No.1 attraction in the area with children cheering as strands of hair of volunteer participants rise up due to transferred electrical charges to a terminal. The Plasma Ball is also another attraction with its tactile experience on electrical charges. Other activities in the exhibit also include manipulation of human anatomy model, views under the microscope, the steady hand game, and skeletal system model. The mobile Planetarium is, of course, a spectacle among children.

For techno-geeks and innovation and engineering enthusiasts, other DOST line agencies and private companies also showcased their technological advancements along more precise weather updating, environmental monitoring, robotics, and others, to include the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), and others.

With the conduct of this set of activities, students and the rural people alike experience science and technology in an engaging and productive level. Exhibits serve as avenues of information and technology dissemination while promoting value-adding activities and products of assisted entrepreneurs. Interactive exhibits allow viewers and visitors to experience life in the bureau and its field of expertise. And technology fora and trainings give wider horizons of learning for the community people.

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