DMMMSU broke ground to lay the foundation of Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation and Innovation Center at Alipang, Rosario, La Union on July 2, 2021. Present during the groundbreaking ceremony were Dr. Armando Q. Ganal, DOST-R1 Director; President Jaime I. Manuel, Jr.; Dr. Gaudelia Villanueva, Dean of the College of Agriculture; Prof. Vicky Malaya, DMMMSU-ATBI Project Leader; and personnel from the Planning Office namely Dr. Priscilo P. Fontanilla, Jr., VP for Planning and Resource Development; Prof. Lilito Gavina, Director for Planning; Arch. Jem Siapno, University Architect, Engr. Roy Bambico, University Engineer; Prof. Marissa Fangon, Head for Planning (SLUC), and Engr. Nestor Galban.
The 2-storey building has an initial budget of 2 million pesos from DMMMSU’s Fund 164. Thirty million (30M) pesos will be needed to complete the project by 2022. The center will house among others meat processing area, fruits and vegetables processing area, administration office, workstations, mechanical room, storage rooms, conference room, and seminar/evaluation/food analysis room.
ATBI’s are effective catalysts of industry, economic, and social development. They help those who have entrepreneurial interest in crops, livestock, aquaculture, post-harvest and food processing, agriculture machinery, farm inputs, disease diagnostics, wood and non-wood forest products hatch businesses. They help boost the local micro, small, and medium enterprises by providing them technical, marketing, and incubation support. Through ATBI’s, incubatees are guided towards business success and sustainability.
ATBII Center in DMMMSU is one of the 16 Technology Business Incubation Centers established in the country by DOST-PCAARD.
Photos | Dr. Gaudelia Villanueva, Arch. Jem Jem, Prof. Vicky Navarro Malaya