For the second time around, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña visited the Research Station of Mindanao State University at Naawan on March 10, 2022.

During the visit, MSU Naawan Personnel presented the highlights of DOST funded projects namely: 1) NICER for Sea Cucumber R&D, 2) Production of Spirulina Biomass: Refinement of Grow-out Production Technology and Piloting in Northern Mindanao, 3) Evaluating IMTA as an Approach to Diseases and Environmental Management for Sustainable Culture of 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘦𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯, 4) In Silico Nanotoxicology Evaluation of Engineered Nanomaterials: Bridging the Data Gap on Experimental Approaches for Toxicity Appraisal with Implications to Nanomaterial Risk Assessment and Nano-Safety.

On her welcome address, Chancellor Dr. Elnor C. Roa recalled how MSU Naawan started with its partnership with DOST and that MSU Naawan has been blessed since. She also hopes to have more project partnerships with the department in the future.

DOST Secretary de la Peña then commended MSU Naawan for the success of the projects and urged MSU Naawan to submit more research proposals for DOST funding support on top of the completed and existing DOST funded research projects of the university. DOST hopes to assist more research projects related to fisheries and marine sciences in the region and to have more graduate students who can benefit for the programs and scholarships that is being offered by the university in partnership with the department.

As MSU Naawan is a university for the community, these DOST funded projects have long extended the projects to the different communities in the region and in Mindanao. With its partnership with DOST, MSU Naawan wishes to help more communities and families improve their way of living through the research and extension projects initiated by MSU Naawan.

The visit of Secretary de la Peña ended up with a tour to the molecular genetics laboratory of the university and the secretary had a first-hand experience with sea cucumbers and other variety of fishes that the university is developing and producing.