By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

As in his prior engagements with Mariano Marcos State University, it was a fruitful three-month stay for Balik-Scientist Dr. Fiorello Abenes who has concluded his mission to help sustain the gains of the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC) in the university. 

In an exit conference held at the NBERIC Conference Hall yesterday, December 6, the professor emeritus of California Polytechnic State University presented his accomplishments before officials of Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and MMSU. “Even in a short period of time, we were able to accomplish meaningful initiatives,” he beamed.

Dr. Abenes and the NBERIC were able to organize and train three cooperatives in Ilocos Norte and Cagayan on bioethanol collection, processing, and development. They also developed a novel and practical assay for methanol and a clean cook stove using nipahol as fuel. 

Moreover, he also assisted in analyzing, interpreting, and validating data from lambanog testing and cookstove; and, provided expert advice and technical consultations on NBERIC project proposals. 

He further encouraged MMSU researchers and students to persistently innovate, having shared the challenges and breakthroughs of the university’s biofuels research journey. 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis thanked the balik-scientist for his dedication to champion bioenergy development in the country. She assured him that the university will maximize his outputs to further expand NBERIC’s bioethanol research.

For his part, NBERIC Director Roque Ulep attributed the achievements of the directorate to the strong assistance of Dr. Abenes, who has been helping MMSU forward its renewable energy initiatives since 2008. 

Indeed, he is a “treasured part of the MMSU community,” the NBERIC director says of Dr. Abenes whose balik-scientist service at MMSU from September to December was sponsored by the DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).

Ms. Glenda Dorcas Sacbibit, supervising science research specialist of PCIEERD Human Resource and Institutional Development Division, congratulated Dr. Abenes for the successful implementation of the nipa technology commercialization project. She also lauded MMSU for hosting balik-scientists excellently. 

The DOST program serves as big help in bringing impactful science and technology initiatives to communities. This is in line with the university’s goal to create relevant and innovative research programs under the ACHIEVE agenda of President Agrupis. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)