The Microbiology Consortium of the Philippines (MCP) and the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) renewed their partnership to further microbiology education and research through a Memorandum of Agreement signing held on September 29 at the FEM Hall Conference Room.

The agreement aims to develop and implement standardized microbiology courses and to enhance teaching, research, and extension capabilities of microbiology practitioners through training, workshops, lectures, and advanced course offerings.

Present during the signing were MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr.; NBERIC Director and MCP Representative James Paul Madigal; Philippine Society for Microbiology North Luzon Chapter President Elpidio Cadalzo, Jr.; Biology Department Chair Alice Geraldine Hernando-Pagaling; and University Registrar Director Henedine Aguinaldo. Faculty and staff from concerned units also witnessed the event. Signing in Quezon City was Dr. Windell Rivera, MCP Chair and Executive Director of the Philippine Genome Center at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

MCP, the capacity-building arm of the Philippine Society for Microbiology, unites higher education institutions to promote excellence and ethical standards in teaching and practicing microbiology in the country.

Through this partnership, MMSU commits to offering microbiology courses through its Department of Biological Sciences to address the shortage of registered microbiologists in Northern Luzon. Currently, the university has two registered microbiologists, namely Dr. James Paul Madigal and Ms. Shaira Dawn Oaquera, both members of the said department. (SCI)

: James Paul Madigal