Mariano Marcos
State University

Student researchers present One Health Paoay Lake study to local stakeholders

By Ian Paul Villanueva

Culminating a months-long research initiative funded by the Southeast Asian One Health University Network (SEAOHUN), a team of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) students presented the findings of their study on Paoay Lake to local government officials, farmers, and community leaders on October 22 at the Center for Flexible Learning (CFL).

MMSU Campus-to-Community (C2C) Project Team members Gimilca Princess Bagasol, Clarenz Alvarez, Haifa Loraine Ramat, Julliene Vhae Ruguian, Mikylla Gatoc, John Lynyrd Ganitano, and Gene Lloyd Cabang, under the guidance of Dr. Monaliz Nagrampa, studied the overall water quality of Paoay Lake and evaluated how local environmental factors impact human, animal, and ecosystem health in the Paoay Lake area.

Their study, “Community-based One Health Assessment of Effluent Pathways from Backyard Swine Farms and Water Quality Risks in Paoay Lake, Ilocos Norte, Philippines,” particularly tackled the effects of open manure dumping and direct wastewater discharge in the lake. It also measured dissolved oxygen and ammonia-nitrogen levels and assessed the resistance of isolated water bacteria to antibiotics.

Their presentation was of particular interest among the Paoay resident participants as critical data on the impact of backyard swine farms located within a one-kilometer radius of the lake were shared. The study area included the surrounding barangays of Suba, Nagbacalan, Nanguyudan, Sungadan, and Pasil.

The program at the CFL was also highlighted by the presence of Ms. Juthamanee Areeya, SEAOHUN Senior Public Engagement Officer and Project Coordinator of the C2C Project, who introduced the regional organization's grassroots initiatives to the local stakeholders.

During her courtesy visit with MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., she extended SEAOHUN’s gratitude to MMSU for its support in the implementation of the C2C project, primarily through the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) led by Dean Melvin Bagot.

For his part, Dr. Manzano also thanked Ms. Areeya for SEAOHUN’s support for the student researchers, describing the project as a welcome endeavor that aligns with the university’s vision and mandate as a state university.

The study adopted the One Health approach, a research framework that considers the interconnection of human, animal, and environmental health. It was backed by a 2,000 US-dollar research grant in May.

Sponsored by Chevron under SEAOHUN’s Student Engagement Program, the grant was awarded to only nine teams across Southeast Asia after a competitive selection process, with only one winning team selected per country.