DMMMSU through President Jaime I. Manuel, Jr. and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Regional Fisheries Office No. 1(BFAR-RF01) represented by its Director, Dr. Rosario Segunda P. Gaerlan, signed a Memorandum of Agreement at BFAR-RF Office this morning, October 4, 2022 for the development of salt industry in Region 1.

Mandated to promote the development, conservation, management, protection, and utilization of fisheries and aquatic resources, BFAR tapped DMMMSU as its partner, as DMMMSU specializes in fisheries research development.

Named “Development of Salt Industry Project (DSIP)”, the project is funded by the Department of Agriculture under 2021 General Appropriations Act fund.

Among its responsibilities during the implementation of the project, BFAR-RFO1 will 1) monitor the project on a monthly basis, 2) provide post-harvest equipment and materials to be used in the technology demonstration on salt production using High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), 3) allocate funds for the conduct of capacity-building, technology demonstration, monitoring and evaluation of the salt project, 4) validate registered fisherfolk who are to be provided with technical and input support, 5) coordinate with beneficiaries who are to be provided with skills/capacity trainings through the LGUs, and 6) coordinate with learning-service provider on the schedule of capacity building and technology demonstration to the project beneficiaries.

On the other hand, DMMMSU through the North La Union Campus-Fisheries Research and Training Institute (NLUC-FRTI), will 1) serve as the learning service provider on the salt production in the four (4) Provinces of Region I, 2) provide venue for the conduct of capacity-building training in the Province of La Union, 3) participate in the technology demonstration on salt production using HDPE in the identified salt areas involved in the project, 4) strengthen identified associations through trainings and provision of technical assistance for the sea salt producers and refinery in Region 1, and 5) assist in the monitoring of the status of salt projects in the identified site areas in the Region.

Present during the MOA signing were representatives from DMMMSU namely Dr. Angelina T. Gonzales, Vice President for Research and Extension; Dr. Junifer Rey E. Tabafunda, NLUC Chancellor; and Dr. Andie John D. Tadeo, Director for Fisheries Research and Training Institute.

Meanwhile, BFAR-FR01 officials who were also present include Ms. Mea F. Baldonado, OIC of BFAR’s Fisheries Post-Harvest and Marketing Division (FPHMD); Ms. Mary Ann A. Salomon, Provincial Fishery Officer in Pangasinan;  Mr. Martin T. Allayban, Provincial Fishery Officer in Ilocos Sur; Ms. Vanessa Abegail Dagdagan, Provincial Fishery Officer in Ilocos Norte; Mr. Francis Greg A. Buccat – Provincial Fishery Officer in La Union; Atty. Girly G. Dela Peña, OIC in BFAR’s Administrative and Finance Division; and Ms. Remely B. Lachica, OIC in BFAR’s Fisheries Production and Support Services Division.

Prior to the MOA signing, the project was presented by Ms. Mea F. Baldonado. (Ayu)