Since its inception, the DOST-PSU ASIN Center became the talk-of-the town and received numerous partnerships from various institutions to revitalize the country’s salt industry.
True enough, the 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐌. 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐬 and 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐮 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚 𝐒. 𝐔𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐦, formally inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), cementing the partnership between PSU and SSC in the fields of education and salt research on February 13, 2025.
Pangasinan State University delegations ventured on a three-day visit to SCC which featured dialogue on the upcoming knowledge exploration, potential avenues for research collaboration, with a particular emphasis on salt production, as well as the development of key local industries such as Bangus farming and agriculture, and a proposal for a joint capacity-building initiative with SSC.
The conversation also explored ways to elevate the value of local products through improved marketing strategies, alongside the formation of cooperatives to strengthen salt-making and coconut production enterprises.
Representing PSU were 𝐃𝐫. 𝐈𝐚𝐧 𝐃. 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚, 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐆. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐲, 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡, 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
On SSC’s side, President Dr. Charisma S. Ututalum and 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐔. 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐫. 𝐀𝐜𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐏. 𝐋𝐢𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠 (𝐏𝐒𝐔 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭), 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐫. 𝐑𝐨𝐲 𝐑. 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 (𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐓-𝐏𝐒𝐔 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫), 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐫. 𝐀𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐂. 𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥 (𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐕, 𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐓-𝐏𝐒𝐔 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫).
The said agreement formalized a shared commitment to joint research, data sharing, and the implementation of extension programs focused on community development, capacity-building, and technology transfer.
During the visit, the joint PSU-SCC team explored salt making sites such as the solar salt farm in Pandukan Island and witnessed a salt production area such as “Asin Batu” or the traditional salt product introduced by local salt farmers in Pangutaran town.
Dr. Resultay stressed the need to prioritize marketing efforts for Sulu’s salt products, while also encouraging the involvement of SSC students in salt-related research initiatives.
Mr. Liwanag added that PSU could facilitate connections between Sulu’s salt producers and key players in the supply chain, particularly the Philippine Coconut Authority.
PSU President, Dr. Galas, continues to target innovation in the academe that will help the students attain holistic development and community upliftment.
