The Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) conducted relief operations in six towns of Laguna: Mabitac, Siniloan, Pangil, Sta. Cruz, Lumban, and Los Baňos on April 29.
This was accomplished through the Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) program of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Led by LSPU-ATBI project leader Engr. Isabelita T. Domingo, the team provided 50 bags of relief goods to families, frontliners, and a student in lockdown.
The team also supported the farmer-incubatees in the six towns, by providing them with a total of 2,120 mushroom fruiting bags.
According to the LSPU-ATBI’s report, the fruiting bags for the six farmer beneficiaries serve as assistance in starting their mushroom business. It will also serve as an ongoing relief effort of the ATBI to help COVID-19-affected communities. Based on the partnership guidelines, half of the harvest of the incubatees in this said mushroom project will be donated to their identified barangays. This would mean distribution of fresh oyster mushrooms as relief until July 2020.
The LSPU-ATBI team was supported by LSPU’s Vice President for Research Development and Extension, Dr. Corazon N. San Agustin, the AATBI Project Staff, the LSPU relief task force, representatives from two farm partners, and some members of the local government units (LGUs) in the six towns.
The LSPU-ATBI is one of the groups that have been organizing its relief assistance activities to alleviate the situation in nearby communities amidst the COVID-19 crisis. The ATBIs of the Benguet State University (BSU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU), Capiz State University (CapSU), and the Central Mindanao University (CMU) have also organized their relief operations in their own provinces and other localities.
This initiative is part of the Lingkod Alalay sa Pamayanan (LINGAP) component of the “GALING-PCAARRD Kontra COVID-19” program under the DOST PCAARRD pursuant to the Republic Act No. 11469, which is also known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.”
Projects under the DOST-PCAARRD Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management (IP-TBM) and the Science for the Convergence of Agriculture and Tourism (SciCAT) programs of the Council are also currently responding to the call for relief assistance.