THE COMMISSION on Higher Education has recognized MMSU’s Integrated Kawayan R&D Program as one of the three Best Higher Education Institution (HEI) Research Program in  the country and the best in Region 1.

As regional winner, MMSU received a plaque of recognition and cash award of P300, 000 – 70 percent of which went to the research proponent for the enhancement of the program and 30 percent was given to the project leaders and implementers led by VPREBA Stanley C. Malab.  The Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University’s apiculture and yam projects emerged first and second runners up, respectively.

As national winner (second runner up), the program received a trophy and P300, 000 cash incentive.  Siliman University was adjudged winner – which pocketed P1M – while the University of the Philippines in Diliman settled as first runner up and went home with P500, 000.

MMSU’s Kawayan Program is a multi-disciplinary R&D undertaking which aims to develop, promote, and accelerate the bamboo industry in the Ilocos Region.  It covers bamboo planting stock production; plantation ecology, establishment, and maintenance; pole harvesting and treatment; products processing; bamboo machineries design and fabrication; and marketing and technology promotion.  Students in forestry, biology, engineering, and business have conducted thesis work along the areas covered by the program, thereby involving not only the research function of the university but also its instruction function.

The program has developed: the planting stock production technology using one-node cutting; the kawayan technology covering plantation establishment, maintenance, techniques, pole production, and shoot harvesting; the engineered kawayan (E-kawayan) technology; and various machines for bamboo processing. It has, likewise, established the E-kawayan Processing and Training Center and the E-kawayan business of MMSU.   It has also applied for patents for the kawayan tile maker and the kawayan pole maker; promoted the technology in various technology fora; and conducted various training programs to promote the bamboo industry.

CHED gives the award to public and private HEIs in consonance with Sec. VIII of RA No. 7722 mandating it to enhance the research function of HEIs in the Philippines.  CHED believes that research, being one of the triad functions of HEIS, enhances the individual’s capacity to conduct technology-directed and innovative/creative work.  Since colleges and universities are among the primary institutions tasked to generate and disseminate knowledge, they should be encouraged, CHED says, to conduct research and other scholarly investigations in the various academic disciplines. HEIs play an important role in developing and nurturing a “research culture” among the people.

Winning research programs were chosen according to their impact on development (contribution of the program to national development and productivity of the society based on technologies developed – 40%), impact on the discipline (contribution of the program to S&T, patent, improvement of academic programs, improved students’ performance, better teaching materials, publications, etc. – 40%), institutional and policy environment for the program (organization/infrastructural and policy support provided by the HEI –10%), novelty and originality (5%), and recognition given to the program (5%). 

The board of evaluators were composed of Dr. Emil Q. Javier, president of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), as chairman; Dr. Saturnino M. Ocampo Jr., commissioner of CHED, as vice chairman; and Dr. Filemon A. Uriarte Jr. (academician, NAST), Dr. Fortunato T. de la Peña (undersecretary, DOST), and Dr. Mario A. Lamberte (micro finance manager, EMERGE Project-USAID) as members.

The awarding ceremony was held Jan. 27 at the PICC in Pasig City and was attended by President Miriam E. Pascua by Dr. Stanley C. Malab, Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, and Mr. Charlie Batin.