DR. SATURNINO M. Ocampo Jr., former MMSU president and now CHED commissioner, urged members of the Ilocos Norte Science Community (INSC) to make as much as they can to achieve more and pledged his support to the activities of the organization.

This developed as he keynoted this year’s celebration of INSC’s 10th foundation anniversary held July 31 at the Teatro Ilocandia.

In his speech, he encouraged the scientific group to adopt a school and a barangay and later move to other schools and other barangays when “what you have taught them have already become a part of their lives”. 

He also challenged the group to make their proposed science park a reality.  “I would like to see the centrum in the real ground,” he said. He also shared his vision of a botanical garden in Ilocos Norte – the same garden he helped establish in La Union.  “Let us help each other to realize this,” he said.

Lastly, he urged the members of the science community to continue with their on-going projects and said: “Be the best.  If you can’t be the best, leave it.”

Commissioner Ocampo is considered as father of the Ilocos Norte Science Community which started as the Batac Science Community formed when he was still regional director of the Department of Science and Technology.

Meanwhile, five papers on various topics were lined up for the plenary session.  The topics and their respective speakers were:  “Poverty alleviation strategy from an engineer’s point of view” by Dr. Makoto Kimura of the Kyoto University International Innovation Center in Japan; “Open academy for Philippine agriculture” by Dr. Roger F. Barroga of the Philippine Rice Research Institute; “Disaster preparedness: Earthquakes and other related events” by Director Renato U. Solidum Jr. of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology; “Salamat po doctor: Prospects for medical tourism in Ilocos Norte” by Dr. Jose B. Orosa of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC); and “Effects of tungro virus on rabbit cornea in relation to nummular keratis among farmers” by Dr. Juanita Aloy-Butala of the MMMH&MC.

Japanese Engineer Kimura also presented his paper in another venue attended by members of MMSU’s administrative council and some officials of the provincial government of Ilocos Norte.  The Japanese engineer, who serves as Japan International Cooperation Agency coordinator for poverty alleviation in Asia and Africa,  expressed his interest to tie up with MMSU’s engineering faculty and students for future poverty projects such as his design for all-weather rural access road using labor-based technology.

During the closing ceremony, INSC awarded Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis a plaque in appreciation of her previous post as director of the INSC.