Through the Extension Directorate, MMSU bagged the 2015 Best Project Implementer Award bestowed by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-I.  The university received the award on April 20 during the State of the Region’s Development Conference (SORDC) and Regional Development Council Awards and Recognition Program at Marand Resort, Bauang, La Union.  

The giving of awards is an annual activity of the RDC to recognize deserving government entities that have implemented projects supportive of and consistent with the region’s vision and thrusts, and with the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).  The university’s projects were validated on Feb. 3 by members of the Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) composed of representatives from the Presidential Management Office (PMO), Department of Interior and Local Government, Non-government Organizations, and NEDA-RDC 1.  

Inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) of Batac City including those farmers from Brgy. Sumader who were beneficiaries of the mushroom production project were interviewed following criteria of evaluation such as planning/resource allocation, implementation performance, monitoring and evaluation, and beneficiary satisfaction.  As part of the validation, the evaluators visited the production area of BJMP.  

Records show that MMSU is a consistent nominee and the only SUC in Region1 that participates in the contest.  All other entries came from other regional offices of DENR, DOST, and DA, among other line agencies.  

During the evaluation process, Extension Director Aris Reynold V. Cajigal presented the Mushroom Production Project as a good livelihood venture for rural people.

The program, “Oyster Mushroom Production: Livelihood from Good Fungi,” was conceptualized to answer the need for an alternative livelihood venture for community members who are interested to augment their income.  The project is a result of the collaborative efforts of the Marcos Agro Industrial School under the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority, the MMSU Extension Directorate, University Center for Gender and Development, BJMP, and the City Goverment of Batac.  

For the last five years, MMSU has been recognized by the RDC-1 as the best project implementer of various extension projects such as the Techno Gabay Program, Food Sovereignty through Sustainable Entrepreneurial Development, Program for Rural Households, Enterprise Livelihood Support for the Academe, MMSU’s Seedstock Dispersal Project,  and the Developing Underserved Rural Areas through Services :  MMSU’s Mechanism of Fulfilling the MDG’s  through Convergence and Volunteerism. (By Mercy R. Gaño)