By Jesslyn Keith Valite

Mariano Marcos State University and Japan’s Coastal Development Institute of Technology (CDIT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on January 30 at Ferdinand E. Marcos Hall, committing to a five-year partnership in coastal development and engineering research.

Through the partnership, both parties commit to sharing a wide range of research and innovative ideas related to coastal studies. This collaboration will also involve exchanging technical staff and equipment, further enhancing the effective implementation of coastal projects and related research.

The MoU was signed by MMSU OIC-President Prima Fe R. Franco, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Development Nathaniel Alibuyog, and CDIT’s President Shoichi Miyazaki, represented by Prof. Dr. Tetsuya Hiraishi. It was witnessed by representatives from the  Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).

Dr. Franco expressed gratitude for CDIT's trust in the university, emphasizing that cooperation will address the challenges in coastal development not only in Ilocos Norte but across the country. “We will make this partnership robust and effective in both learning and preserving our coastal areas.”

CDIT’s Dr. Hiraishi also expressed excitement about the new collaboration, hoping both institutions will contribute to the advancement of coastal studies. “Together with MMSU, this is a great opportunity to develop excellence in coastal engineering and better understand the coastal situation in the Philippines." 

The MoU will benefit MMSU as it operates the Coastal Engineering and Management Research and Development Center (COASTER), funded by DOST-PCIEERD. It leads efforts to develop technologies and innovations that help mitigate and manage coastal disasters and risks, particularly in the Ilocos region. 

The CDIT is a leading Japanese institute on coastal technology, research, and engineering. It was founded in 1983 as a public foundation of the Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.