MMSU ties up with Toyota and DENR for coastal preservation in Pasuquin town
By Mary Joy Dumbrique, STRATCOM Correspondent
Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation (TMPF), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) have partnered with the Local Government Unit of Pasuquin to strengthen coastal forest conservation efforts in Barangay Davila, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte. The partnership was formalized on November 29 through a memorandum of agreement (MOA).
The MOA was signed by MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano Jr., alongside TMPF leadership, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation executives, Toyota Ilocos Norte management, and DENR-CENRO Bangui representative Ecosystem Management Specialist Justine Rose Teneza. LGU-Pasuquin was represented by Sangguniang Bayan Member Romel Ranay.
Following the signing, a mangrove planting event took place, where 1,750 propagules were planted as part of TMPF’s All-Toyota GreenWave Project, with another 1,750 planned for the following year. This initiative aligns with Toyota's goal of planting one million trees by 2030.
TMPF President Jose Maria Aligada said the partnership with MMSU, DENR, and LGU-Pasuquin is an example of shared stewardship that aims to restore native mangrove species, rehabilitate coastal systems, and boost community resilience to climate-related hazards.
Former MMSU College of Industrial Technology (CIT) Dean Cesario Pacis was also recognised during the event as one of the initiators behind the partnership between MMSU and Toyota during his leadership.
Other officials and representatives present were MMSU CIT OIC-Dean Aldous Asuncion; MMSU CIT Automotive Technology Department Chair Jayson Tebes; Senior Vice President of Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation Jhohana Mamonong; First Vice President Josephine Villanueva; Toyota Ilocos Norte General Manager Robin So; and TMPF Head for Health Sector and Company Physician Laennec Baquiran.
MMSU Vice President for Administration and Finance Fides Bernardo Bitanga described the project as an advocacy-driven collaboration toward MMSU’s mission as an agricultural and scientific institution, noting the importance of joint action in addressing climate change.
Dr. Manzano said the project reinforces MMSU’s aspiration to advance sustainability for future generations. He thanked TMPF for complementing the university’s environmental agenda and supporting broader conservation efforts.
Meanwhile, Aligada stressed the importance to invest in a greener future through climate mitigation and community empowerment. Teneza, speaking on behalf of DENR-CENRO Bangui, also said the mangrove planting was a decisive step toward ecological restoration.
The Coastal Forest Conservation Project seeks to rehabilitate mangrove stands in Davila, enhance coastal protection, support marine biodiversity, and build long-term frameworks for community-centered conservation in Pasuquin.
MMSU CIT
Dec, 04, 2025 09:44:pm
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