By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

For the third time, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) has received a Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) grant from the US Department of State (DOS). This year, it will be used to implement a training program for rural communities in Region I. 

With a $10,000 grant, MMSU will train and organize underemployed rural residents to collect and process nipa sap using the university’s Village-Scale Nipa Technology, and to develop and market bioethanol products. 

The project, which seeks to benefit 50 participants from nipa-forested areas in the region, is led by Fulbright alumni Dr. Fiorello Abenes of the California Polytechnic State University in Pomona, California, and Dr. Jan Rich Guira of MMSU. Dr. Abenes is a former MMSU Balik-Scientist and a consultant to the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC) while Dr. Guira is the director of the university’s student affairs and services office. Other members of the team are MMSU president Shirley C. Agrupis, College of Teacher Education dean Aris Reynold V. Cajigal, and NBERIC director Roque Ulep, all US Exchange program alumni. 

Dr. Abenes said the project aims to help enhance economic, environmental, and disaster resilience of rural workers and improve living conditions in vulnerable coastal areas in the region. 

Earlier this year, they submitted the project proposal to the US-DOS Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The nipa technology training program is among the 39 winning projects by the DOS-ECA in various countries this year. 

The US agency invited citizen alumni of all US government-sponsored exchange programs to apply for CDAF small grants. Submitted proposals for public services projects were along the following themes: protecting the environment, strengthening democratic institutions, fostering alumni network development, bolstering outreach to underserved communities, and building community through arts, sports, language, and technology.

Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield congratulated the CDAF grantees for 2022, saying the work of these alumni as citizen diplomats benefits American and international communities, and makes international exchange programs accessible to all.

Sponsored by DOS-ECA and implemented by the Global Ties US, CDAF is a unique opportunity for alumni to use skills and knowledge learned during their exchange, connect with fellow alumni, and elevate their role as community leaders.

In 2021, US exchange program alumni from MMSU trained Ilocos Norte women on organic soap-making. Earlier this year, an immersion science camp for high school girls was held in the province. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)