By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

Setting a high bar of excellence in implementing high-impact extension programs, Mariano Marcos State University emerged victorious in the first National Extension Conference organized online by the Southern Leyte State University on March 21-22. 

The MMSU project titled “Bio-Intensive Gardening (BIG) - Panlaban sa COVID-19 para sa Ilocos” bagged the Best Paper Award under the disaster management track. It was authored by Ms. Marissa Atis, Prof. Geovannie Stanley Malab, Dr. Aris Reynold Cajigal, Ms. Mercy Fausta Gaño, Dr. Sherlyn Nicolas, Ms. Bella Gervacio, and Ms. Abegail Marcelino. 

Implemented by the MMSU Research and Extension directorates, the BIG project aimed to increase food security of various communities and schools in Ilocos Norte in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic through the adoption of a package of technology on vegetable gardening and glutinous corn production. 

The project benefited household members and elementary school pupils in the province, who learned how to prepare, establish, and maintain organic vegetable gardens. It also helped local farmers improve their production of glutinous corn. 

“Our project effectively addressed the challenges of the pandemic. Through our harmonious partnership with key stakeholders, we successfully promoted the BIG technology to its intended beneficiaries,” said Dr. Nicolas, who presented the paper during the conference. 

The BIG project was funded by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development through the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resource Research and Development Consortium. 

Other MMSU extension projects presented in the national conference were its School-on-the-Air which competed under education track, and the Balik-Probinsya program, under agriculture and fisheries tracks. 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis congratulated the university extensionists for their feat, saying “this reflects the significance of our extension projects in responding to the socioeconomic challenges, and in helping empower Ilocano communities.”

The online conference accommodated 59 papers from 35 higher education institutions in the country. Of this number, 33 were under the education track, 12 in agriculture and fisheries, nine in technology and engineering, and five in disaster management. 

With the theme “Improving Communities: Impact-Driven Extension Activities in the New Normal,” the conference brought together extensionists from various tertiary schools across the country, who shared their experiences in conducting extension programs during the pandemic. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)