The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Office 02 has approved the research and development proposal of Batanes State College (BSC) to be implemented starting this second quarter of the year.

DOST Regional Director Sancho Mabborang and some executives of the agency witnessed the virtual and in-face ceremonial awarding of the research funding at the HRTC Building of Batanes Provincial Capitol today.

BSC President Alfonso Simon and Dr. Ferdinand Bulusan, Research and Development Director, officially received the funding from DOST amounting to more than 600 thousand pesos.

During the ceremonial awarding of funding, the guests of honor, Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco and Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr., handed in the check to Simon and Bulusan.

The amount will be used to fund the research proposal titled “Accelerating Development of Products and Technology (ADOPT) through Varied R & D of Ivatan Endemic Resources.”

Prepared by the faculty researchers last month with the assistance of Batanes Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) Director Nora Garcia, the research proposal aims to come up with different project components that contribute to the provincial tourism and livelihood sustainability.

Included in the research proposal are the development of products from Ga-at du Langud (Ronunculus acris) and tipuho and lobster, the production of native pigs, and the development of support for the commercialization of Ivatan Beer.

The research proposal will also aim to find out the standardization of time, moisture, humidity, and temperature for drying Ivatan products like dibang (flying fish), turmeric, pechay, and garlic, seaweed, and root crops. Also, it will establish product compatibility and improved packaging of processed resources.

During the awarding ceremony, President Simon expressed the College’s “extreme commitment” to collaborate with DOST by implementing the approved research proposal.

“We, at BSC, are extremely committed to continuously partner with DOST. We will try our best para makatulong sa pangkabuhayan at turismo ng mga taga-Batanes sa pamamagitan ng aming mga research initiatives (We will try our best to help in the livelihood and tourism in Batanes through our research initiatives.),” Simon said in his acceptance speech.

Also awarded during the ceremony were the DOST monetary aids to the local entrepreneurs of Batanes.