Dr. Teresita A. Tabaog, Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology Region 1 (DOST-I) visited the agency’s projects and provincial offices in Pangasinan on 9 February 2023 to fully assess the needs on the ground and provide better support to implement programs better.
The visit in Pangasinan by OIC-RD Tabaog led to the meeting with former DOST-I Regional Director Armando Q. Ganal and a visit to the PSTO-Pangasinan field office located at PSU Urdaneta. Jennifer Fernandez, Science Research Specialist II exhibited some of the products of assisted-SETUP firms in Districts 4, 5, and 6 and shortly discussed how the program helped improve their products, production processes, and businesses.
In PSU-Urdaneta, OIC-RD Tabaog and Dr. Ganal dropped by the soon-to-be-opened Solid Freeform Fabrication Research Laboratory (SoFFReL), a 3D printing facility. Also, they provided novel ideas and suggestions to improve the Sea Salt Center proposal research and development projects.
PSU President Elbert Galas welcomed DOST officials as a courtesy to the DOST-I OIC over lunch with representatives from PSU and DOST-I. The two passionate leaders exchanged fruitful ideas to further magnify the strong partnership of DOST-I and PSU to bring science closer to the youth and the people of Pangasinan.
Thereafter, a tour of the PSTO-Pangasinan enabled OIC-RD Tabaog to meet and interact with the PSTO-Pangasinan staff where she expressed her gratitude for the good job they are doing in the province.
On the other hand, the PSU Bayambang staff and Food Innovation Center (FIC) team, headed by Campus Executive Director Ian D. Evangelista, were pleased to welcome OIC-RD Tabaog. After a brief tour of the facility, Meryl A. Bernardino provided an outline of the center’s activities for better appreciation of the DOST officials.
OIC-RD Tabaog praised them for their efforts and continued support. She also pledged that DOST-I would, in turn, continue to directly support and collaborate with all of the university’s research and development initiatives. (By Monique C. Esguerra/DOST-STII)