Laoag City partners with MMSU to boost MSMEs
By Jeremy Pascual
The City Government of Laoag and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on May 4 at Laoag City Hall to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through enhanced product development and innovation.
Under the agreement, the MMSU Technology Business Incubator (TBI) will assist local businesses in improving their products and boosting their competitiveness.
The MOA was signed by MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. and Laoag City Mayor James Bryan Alcid, along with incubatees and representatives of partner institutions.
In his message, Dr. Manzano expressed his full support for the initiative and also shared his aspiration for the local products to reach a wider market.
“One of the primary goals of MMSU is to improve the community’s quality of life through honest labor and integrity of work, which is why we remain committed to supporting initiatives that help advance this mission,” he said. “Our products are our identity; we are known by what we create. So, let us work together to develop these products so they can reach markets beyond the city,” he added.
Mayor Alcid agreed with the sentiment of the MMSU President, describing the need for the city to establish a distinct identity, one that will show the creativity and uniqueness of the people of Laoag.
“When people hear about a certain product, they will think of where it came from. And that is what we want. When they hear your brand, they will say, that’s from Laoag.” Mayor Alcid stated.
Under the agreement, MMSU will provide MSMEs with basic incubation services through the MMSU ATBI DAP-AYAN, including market validation, prototype development, intellectual property protection, pilot testing, business model development, business plan preparation, business pitching, and business registration.
Selected MSMEs will also undergo a qualifying process for advanced incubation services, which include training, mentorship and coaching, linkaging and networking, as well as financial matching and fund sourcing.
The partnership aims to transform the business of the incubatees into sustainable and competitive enterprises by maximizing the shared resources of the university and the city of Laoag.
May, 06, 2026 09:22:am
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