Mariano Marcos
State University

PJM addresses ABEs in reg’l convention

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) President Dr. Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. addressed Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers (ABEs) during the 2026 Ilocos Regional Annual Convention and Technical Conference of the Philippine Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers (PSABE)–Ilocos Regional Chapter, held at MMSU Student Center from January 21 to 23, highlighting the profession’s vital role in building a resilient and sustainable future in agriculture.

In his keynote address, Dr. Manzano, a topnotcher in the 1994 Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Board Examination, underscored the vital role of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers (ABEs) in improving the quality of life, not only of Filipino farmers but of the nation as a whole. He emphasized the profession’s capacity to address pressing challenges in agriculture through science, engineering, and innovation. He also encouraged participants to maximize the conference as a platform for forging and strengthening inter-agency partnerships and building collaborative relationships geared toward a shared agenda of agricultural development at both regional and national levels.
 

“Our profession gives us power. Let us use this power to help the Filipino people by making agriculture resilient and responsive to what it really needs,” Dr. Manzano said.
 

Provincial Board Member Hanson Chua, representing Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, conveyed the provincial government’s continued support for the programs and initiatives of PSABE, particularly those focused on improving farmers’ welfare and enhancing agricultural productivity in the province.
 

Meanwhile, in a message from Congressman Sandro Marcos, read by Mr. Edwin Cariño, the lawmaker expressed his appreciation for the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering profession and its significant contribution to technological innovation and agricultural advancement. He acknowledged the profession’s impact on community development and assured the support of his office for future projects and initiatives of the organization aimed at uplifting local farmers.
 

The event gathered Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers from across the Ilocos Region, including regional and provincial officers, and members of the PSABE Board of Trustees. Several of the officers and members in attendance, including Regional Adviser, Engr. Dennis I. Tactac, are alumni of MMSU, underscoring the university’s long-standing contribution to the development of agricultural and biosystems engineering professionals in the region.
 

Throughout the three-day conference, participants will be engaged in various technical sessions, lectures, and panel discussions that focus on strengthening the ABE profession, empowering agricultural extension workers, highlighting the role of ABEs in regional socio-economic development, and showcasing recent innovations and emerging technologies in the agricultural sector.
 

Also present were MMSU Vice President for Research, Development and Innovation Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, who will lead a technical session on enhancing irrigation design through climate-resilient data integration, and Research Director Dr. Dionisio Bucao. Their attendance reinforces MMSU’s commitment to research-driven and sustainable agricultural engineering solutions.
 

The hosting of the convention reaffirmed MMSU’s role as a hub for academic excellence, research, and professional collaboration in advancing resilient and sustainable agriculture in the Ilocos Region and beyond. (𝘔𝘔𝘝)