Embarking on a possible project collaboration on the upscaling and automation of the Pili Pulp Oil production line in partnership with Sorsogon State University (SorSU), the Department of Science and Technology – Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) is currently conducting a three-day field visit in the 𝘗𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘗𝘶𝘴𝘰 and the Sorsogon Province, with the goal of benchmarking on existing practices in the production of Pili Pulp Oil from September 12-14, 2023.
In relation, the DENR – MIRDC team, composed of Engr. Glen D. Espeña, Engr. Franz Joseph D. Libao, Engr. Von Janseen G. Comedia and Mr. Joel M. Evangelista, together with Dr. Catherine A. De Castro (Director, SorSU-Planning Management), also paid a courtesy call to the Officer-In-Charge of the Office of the President, Mr. Gerald E. Fulay (SorSU-Vice President for Administration and Finance). Afterward, the MIRDC team conducted an extensive meeting with the Office of the Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training (OVPRET), headed by Dr. Ryan V. Dio (Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training) relative to potential project collaboration focused on the Pili Pulp Oil production line.
Meanwhile, the MIRDC team, alongside OVPRET officials Dr. Ryan V. Dio (VPRET) & Prof. Christine H. Ferolino (Director, Research and Development), and two faculty researchers, Prof. Dulce Corazon F. Lacson & Mr. Joey Richard V. Dio (CBM faculty members), visited Pili Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives across the province on its Day 2 field visit. Moreover, they will also conduct a visit to the Pili Commodity and Processing Center located in Brgy. Abuyog, Sorsogon City on Day 3.
As a point of reference, the study of Dr. Catherine A. De Castro (Director, SorSU-Planning Management) and Dr. Errol G. De Castro (Head, SorSU-Program & Institutional Accreditation), entitled: “𝘜𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴,” published under Asian Pacific of Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (APJMR) in 2020, was instrumental in the development of this potential project collaboration between SorSU and MIRDC, wherein they had a series of initial meetings and discussions during the early stages of this undertaking.
Further, the said field visit will enable the MIRDC delegates to formulate a project proposal aligned with the technological requirements of the current industry, particularly the Pili commodity in the Province of Sorsogon.
Accordingly, an agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), is the only government entity that directly supports the metals and engineering industry with services designed to strengthen its competitive advantage (MIRDC, 2023). (SorSU PIO)
