DA funds livestock facility in MMSU

The Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Office I (DA-RFO I) awarded funds to MMSU for the implementation of the Livestock Economic Enterprise Development (LEED) Program - Goat Multiplier Farm on November 4.
University President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., represented by Dr. Fides Bernardo Bitanga, Vice President for Administration and Finance, received the Php 5.8-million fund from DA-RFO I, together with representatives from the cashier, accounting, and budget offices of the university.
The delegation was composed of Ms. Karen Paningbatan, Regional Livestock Coordinator, Mr. Edmar Pidot, Livestock Area Coordinator for Ilocos Norte, and Mr. Charles Charlie Belisario, Deputy Agricultural Program Coordinator for Ilocos Norte. They were accompanied by Dr. Sean Vidad, one of the project proponents, along with Dr. Charlie Batin, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (CAFSD).
During the awarding, the delegation presented the components of the project, allocation of the funds, and the responsibilities of DA-RFO I and the university in the project implementation.
The LEED Program aims to establish a small ruminant teaching-research-demonstration facility in MMSU that will address the specific needs of students and local farmers by offering tailored solutions, practical and hands-on learning, and research opportunities.
The Goat Multiplier Farm, to be established in the university, will leverage the university’s expertise in animal science and its extension programs. It will also ensure effective dissemination of knowledge and support for local communities, expanding its reach beyond Ilocos Norte to nearby provinces.
President Manzano, through Dr. Bitanga, expressed his gratitude to DA-RFO I for supporting the initiatives of the university in serving communities and unlocking opportunities for agricultural development. (𝘗𝘑𝘗)