TO BOOST the production and commercialization of garlic in Ilocos Norte, the Department of Trade and Industry turned over a Shared Service Facility on Garlic Processing to the Mariano Marcos State University.

The SSF-GC supports the initiative “to increase the application of processing technology with appropriate equipment for value-adding products such as garlic flakes, powder chips, pickles, and black garlic,” MMSU said.

A Usufruct Agreement for the project was entered into by MMSU President Shirley Agrupis, DTI Region I Director Grace Baluyan, and DTI Ilocos Norte OIC-Director Rosario Q. Quodola.

Agrupis said that the SSF will be of big help to the university’s garlic research and development initiatives to boost the garlic industry.

“The project is in support to the Technology Application and Livelihood and Outreach Network Program of MMSU through the Science and Technology Park,” she said.

The MMSU also has the black garlic processing machine donated by Japanese company Takara Inc. It has taken the lead in producing black garlic in international and local markets, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Ilocos Norte government.

Baluyan explained that the DTI puts up SSF in provinces, particularly in academic institutions, because “the academe plays a big role in making development efforts sustainable.”

S&T director Dr. Marlowe Aquino said the project will benefit the communities as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises involved in garlic production, processing and trading.

He said that the university is establishing the National Garlic and Other Agri-Food Condiments R&D Center. The P35.5-million project was funded by the Department of Science and Technology.

“Last year, the DTI also turned over the P50 million-worth SSF to MMSU’s National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center. It is a sophisticated one-stop technology hub for utilization by various stakeholders especially the micro, small, and medium enterprises,” Aquino said.