To promote the products of the La Virgen Milagrosa Seaweed Producers’ Association in Barangay La Virgen Milagrosa, Badoc, Ilocos Norte, the newly established Souvenir Store was opened on March 23, 2016.  The souvenir store is located in front of the La Virgen Milagrosa Chapel.  It showcases the various by-products of seaweeds produced by the members of the association.  

To recall, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) through the office of the Extension Directorate, College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology (CASAT), MMSU-ENACTUS, University Center for Gender and Development (UCGAD) and the Local Government Unit of Badoc, Ilocos Norte worked together for the establishment of the euchema seaweed plantation commonly known as kanot-kanot in the sea water of Brgy. La Virgen Milagrosa in December, 2015. The barangay was identified and selected based on the capability of the area to grow seaweeds.  The project was started to empower fisherfolks through enterprise development on fishery resources production, value adding, and marketing.  Twenty kilos of kanot-kanot was planted in December to serve as source of raw materials for processing when harvested.  Kanot-kanot was provided by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).  After three months, the seaweeds were harvested by the community members.  Training activities on production, value adding, financial management and marketing strategies were undertaken to prepare the beneficiaries in the real world of business.  From the community members involved in the project, set of officers were elected and were organized into the La Virgen Milagrosa Seaweed Producers Association.  Constitution and by laws was formulated to serve as guide by the members.  Among the processed products are the kanot-kanot seaweed polboron, pastillas, tart, and pickles.  

The soft opening was graced by Hon. Arlene Torralba, and Hon. Thomas Torralba, Municipal Mayor and Vice Mayor of Badoc, respectively.  Other representatives of the Municipal Agriculture Office of LGU Badoc, MMSU faculty, staff and students, and La Virgen Milagrosa Barangay Officials attended the activity.

Vice Mayor Thomas Torralba assured the beneficiaries that the souvenir store will soon be transferred to its permanent location adjacent to the barangay auditorium once the  construction of the building is finished.  He also assured the beneficiaries that the municipality will work with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte in sustaining the La Virgen Milagrosa Chapel to attract more tourists in the community.  In addition to the products in the area, other products of MMSU and MMSU-assisted entrepreneurs were also displayed and sold in the souvenir store.  These include woven bags, rice coffee, sukang  iloko, shellcrafts, and fruit wines.  

La Virgen Milagrosa is one of the tourist destinations in the province at present.

• 11 Onion FArmers Attend Training on WINS

  NOV 19, 2024

  by Joycel LagrioTo help smallholder farmers improve their productivity and reduce significant loss on weather-related risks and costs in onion production, a training on Jollibee Group Foundation's Weather Information Notification System (WINS) was conducted today, Nov. 19, 2024, at the Municipa... [view more]
• MMSU joins the 2024-Wet Season Lakbay Palay sa DA-PhilRice

  OCT 21, 2024

  by Joyce LagrioTo promote the various information and technology services of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), the University through its Extension Directorate office once again joined the Lakbay Palay organized by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Batac branch.  This... [view more]
• MMSU-assisted LGUs reap awards in regional summit

  OCT 16, 2024

  By Frances Batara, StratCom Correspondent Ilocos Norte local government units (LGUs) assisted by the MMSU Extension Directorate, received awards at the Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Stakeholders Forum and Techno Gabay Program Summit held on October 10-11 at the Sison Auditorium in Lingaye... [view more]
• ATI-RTC 1 recognizes MMSU-based ILAARRDEC’s support in agri-fishery development

  OCT 11, 2024

  By Jesslyn Keith Valite The Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1) recognized MMSU and the MMSU-based Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC) for their contributions to agri-fishery development in the region during... [view more]
• MMSU shares improved Honey Corn technology to farmers

  OCT 05, 2024

  By Daniel Tapaoan, Jr., StratCom CorrespondentTo boost the corn industry in Ilocos Norte, the university shared its MMSU Glut 1 or the Improved Honey Corn technology to farmers on September 27 in Brgy. San Andres, Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. Led by faculty-extensionists from the MMSU College of Agric... [view more]