In a landmark initiative to strengthen the mushroom industry in the Philippines, the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on mushroom research, development, and training on June 18, 2025 at the Bureau of Plant Industry, Malate, Manila City.
The MOA was signed in the presence of key government and institutional leaders, including Asec. Philip C. Young, Assistant Secretary and Special Assistant for Export Development, and Dr. Germinigilda A. Gabertan, BPI Assistant Director for Research, Development, and Production Support Services. Representing the signatory institutions were Dr. Evaristo A. Abella, CLSU President; Dr. Rich Milton Dulay, CLSU Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development (CTMRD) Head; and Dr. Oscar Barawid, ASCOT Vice President for Administration and Finance.
This collaborative agreement underscores the three institutions' commitment to boosting mushroom R&D, enhancing production systems, and building the capacities of farmers and growers through comprehensive training programs.
The MOA signing served as a major highlight of the Mushroom Stakeholders' Forum, also held on the same day, which brought together mushroom growers and industry players from various regions across the country. The forum provided a platform for knowledge sharing, innovation showcase, and the establishment of networks to further promote the growth of the mushroom sector as a sustainable livelihood and agribusiness opportunity.
This multi-sectoral partnership is expected to play a crucial role in shaping a resilient and competitive mushroom industry aligned with the country's agricultural modernization and export development goals.
