By Stewart C. Ocampo

Advancing research for the people, Mariano Marcos State University is once again hosting a Balik-Scientist of the Department of Science and Technology. Earlier today, Vice President for Academic Affairs Prima Fe Franco welcomed Dr. Narceo B. Bajet, a biologist and virologist, who is set to conduct community-relevant studies in the province.

To serve as Balik Scientist in MMSU for three months, Dr. Bajet kicked off his research activities by travelling to the town of Pasuquin this morning to visit fields and document plant diseases, particularly in garlic and onion. He will do another field inspection tomorrow in the town of Burgos, and will meet dragon fruit farmers.

He will also start a three-day lecture activity for MMSU researchers, faculty and students on February 9. 

Moreover, he will train university researchers to conduct disease diagnosis, etiology of diseases and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) during his stay in the university. He further aims to strengthen MMSU Garlic Research Center’s initiatives, among others. 

Dr. Bajet is a former faculty member of the College of Agriculture of the University of the Philippines - Los Baños. In 2017, he also served the Tarlac Agricultural University as a DOST – Balik Scientist. He helped the TAU enhance its program on the production of virus-free planting materials for sweet potato. (JVBT, StratCom)