FOR THE third time, Japan’s Kyoto University professor, Dr. Makoto Kimura, returned to MMSU April 10 to finally turn-over to the university the do-nou pathwalk constructed utilizing research funds from Dr. Kimura himself and out of the labor support of National Service Training Program (NSTP) students from the College of Engineering (CoE).

In his message, Dr. Kimura was amazed at how fast the pathwalk was completed.  He said the university has “good staff” and was confident MMSU can already transfer the technology to other communities or interested groups.

President Miriam E. Pascua, on the other hand, expressed her deepest appreciation and gratitude for Kimura’s generosity by sharing part of his research funds.  She thanked Do-nou Project Coordinator and International Programs Chief Shirley C. Agrupis, the project coordinators (engineers Dexter Ramagoza, Maylani Gaoiran, Samuel Rahon, and Thomas Ubiña), and especially the NSTP students of CoE for a “labor of love”.  She encouraged everyone to continue working for the good of the university.

The Dou-no pathwalk at MMSU is a showcase of Japan’s community-based technology aimed as a poverty alleviation strategy that can address accessibility problems in depressed areas.  Financial requirements of the project came from Kimura; machinery and labor support was provided by the university and CoE NSTP students.

The pathwalk connects the College of Arts and Sciences to the circular road leading to the Main Library and to the Administration Building.  This shortcut path makes these facilities very accessible to MMSU constituents aside from effecting savings in time and transportation cost.