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Central Luzon State University

Science City of Muñoz, 3120 Nueva Ecija, Philippines

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CLSU BaCaDM Project Envoy Attends Coordination Meeting in Japan

Nov. 16, 2022

Stratcom | SCO

After a year of implementation, the Joint Coordination Committee of the Banana and Cacao Disease Management (BaCaDM) Project implemented under the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) initiatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), held its first in-person meeting on November 15, 2022, at the Tamagawa University (TU), Machida, Tokyo, Japan.   University President Edgar A. Orden led the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) team, together with Dr. Renato G. Reyes, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Principal Investigator, Dr. Jerwin Undan, Dr. Rich Milton Dulay, Dr. Garry Benico, Dr. Parsons Hail, project leaders, and Dr. Dionisio Alvindia, OIC Executive Director of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.   In his speech, President Orden expressed his gratitude to TU and JICA for the collaborative project and trust in CLSU.  “I am very happy to see that we are physically here (in Japan) to assess what we have accomplished,” President Orden said.   He also commended the CLSU team for the results of their research presented which transpired after a year of project implementation.   During the meeting, Dr. Reyes also presented the activities that took place which include virtual workshops and field collections, and the challenges they encountered and solutions made. While, Dr. Kyoko Watanabe, Principal Investigator of Japan Team discussed the ongoing accomplishments and directions of the project.   Project leaders presented their progress report which consisted of the banana and cacao cultivation practices, collection status, isolation, identification of fungi, and installation of artificial intelligence sensors in Mindanao and CLSU.   Moreover, Professor Dr. Kyoko Watanabe and Professor Dr. Koji Ishikawa will lead the two-week academic activity of faculty researchers at TU and JICA Office.   The coordination meeting was also attended by JICA Representative and SATREPS Research Supervisor.   The BaCaDM is a five-year collaborative research project between CLSU and TU that aims to develop and promote a technology system that will help farmers address major diseases in bananas and cacao.    

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CLSU Signs MOA with 7 Partners to Advance Food Processing and Livelihood Development

Central Luzon State University (CLSU), through the extension efforts of the College of Home Science and Industry (CHSI), signed a Memorandum of Agreement with seven partner institutions and community enterprises under the UNLAD PAMILYA Program, which aims to strengthen community livelihoods through food processing and value addition on July 21, 2026. Under the agreement, CLSU will provide professional and technical assistance on food processing, culinary arts, handicraft production, entrepreneurship, marketing, and business planning. The University will also designate faculty experts, provide training facilities and necessary logistical support, and regularly monitor and evaluate the progress and outcomes of the livelihood initiatives. For an academic institution, the partnership will cover capability building in academic and research areas for its students and faculty. The partner-beneficiaries are Divina Pastora College (Gapan City), Community Visions and Initiatives of Nueva Ecija Guimba, Nueva Ecija), Carranglan Multi-purpose Producers Cooperative, Hacienda T&C Food Processing (San Antonio, Nueva Ecija), K-D Nature Farm (Rizal, Nueva Ecija), Greenfields Christian Farmer Agriculture Cooperative (Munoz), and Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rice Research Institute through its partner Pinagbuklod na Adhikain Multi-purpose Cooperative. The initiative demonstrated CLSU’s mission to connect academic expertise with community stakeholders, driving sustainable livelihoods through value-added agricultural products and supporting the university's goal toward becoming an Education Economic Zone.

Jul. 23, 2026

CLSU Mushroom Center Spawns 35 Years of Excellence

The Central Luzon State University (CLSU), through the Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development (CTMRD), kicked off the 4-day celebration of its 35th Founding Anniversary with the theme “Honoring 35 Years of Pioneering Excellence: Cultivating Legacy, Advancing Innovations, and Sustaining Service for Generations” on July 20, 2026, at the RIE Amphitheater. Prominent individuals in the mushroom industry delivered an inspirational message, including Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Director and Board of Regents member, Dr. Julius Caesar V. Sicat, CTMRD founder and Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) President, Dr. Renato G. Reyes, and Science City of Muñoz City Agriculturist Mr. Lionel Parugrug, representing Hon. Baby Armi L. Alvarez. They reminded the audience of this milestone's significance and honored the achievements of those who have contributed to the growth of both the mushroom initiative and the CTMRD. Meanwhile, Mr. Carl Vincent D. Gapasin, a CLSU alumnus and the current Program Head Coordinator of the Department of Agriculture's National Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture Program, highlighted the center's critical role in agricultural development. “This is precisely why institutions like CTMRD are indispensable; you serve as a bridge between scientific discovery and practical application," Gapasin stated. "Every technology developed creates new opportunities for agencies like the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Department of Agriculture to bring these innovations closer to our communities,” he added. Furthermore, one of the highlights of the event was the launching of Mush. PH: Mushroom Philippines Innovation Network and the oath-taking of its elected officials, and the book launching of CTMRD’s Mykollet: A compendium of Tropical Mushrooms of the Philippines. Among those in attendance were representatives from ASCOT, Bulacan State University, Visayas State University, Iligan Institute of Technology, Golden State College, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Pangasinan State University, Adamson University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, and the Muñoz Local Government Unit.

Jul. 21, 2026

CLSU, LGU Muñoz Advance Proposed S&T Park Development Through Strategic Engagements with PEZA and PPP Center

The Central Luzon State University (CLSU), through the Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs (OVPBA), continues to strengthen the development of the proposed CLSU Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology (KIST) Park through strategic engagements with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines. On July 7, CLSU met with officials from the PPP Center including Assistant Secretary and PPP Center Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Eleazar E. Ricote and the Local Capacity Building Division Assistant Chief, Mr. Ysrael Camacho to explore Public-Private Partnership opportunities that could support the University's infrastructure and innovation priorities. The discussions highlighted the PPP Center's technical and advisory services, as well as potential partnership models that can help accelerate the realization of the KIST Park and other strategic development initiatives. Building on this initiative, Dr. Karenina B. Romualdo, Vice President for Business Affairs and Chair of the Special Economic Zone Act (SEZA), CLSU KIST Park and PPP Committee, joined the delegation from the Science City of Muñoz led by the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (LEDIPO), headed by Engr. Jose A. Ruiz, Jr., in a high-level consultation with PEZA on July 16, to discuss the proposed registration of specialized economic zones in the city. The PEZA officials were led by Ecozone Development Department Manager, Mr. Ludwig O. Daza and Project Development Officer, Ms. Kyle Paula N. Espinoza, who discussed the establishment of PEZA-registered economic zones that will boost investments and strengthen the city's competitiveness. During the consultation, the Science City of Muñoz presented its investment profile and proposed economic zones for the agro-industrial, commercial, and information technology sectors. CLSU, meanwhile, presented its vision for innovation- and research-driven economic zones that will promote technology commercialization, industry collaboration, and investments in pharmaceutical manufacturing and research. Both meetings marked the culmination of a series of consultations and technical discussions between CLSU and the Science City of Muñoz to align development strategies, identify priority investment areas, and refine the proposed ecozone for PEZA registration. These engagements demonstrate CLSU's commitment to transforming research and innovation into drivers of economic growth through strategic partnerships, sustainable investments, and industry collaboration. The University remains dedicated to working closely with government agencies and local stakeholders in advancing the KIST Park as a catalyst for science, technology, innovation, and inclusive regional development in Central Luzon. #SievingForExcellence

Jul. 20, 2026

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