Bobby Alaman/ Caryl Trisha Yapac - MUCEP
July 24, 2025 8:30 A.M.
497
MU Establishes 3-Hectare Falcata Seed Plantation in Region 10
Misamis University (MU), in partnership with the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau – Forest and Wetland Research, Development, and Extension Center (ERDB-FWRDEC), the research arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has established a three-hectare Progeny Field Trial plantation at the MU Farm in Barangay Capucao, Ozamiz City. This initiative aligns with DENR’s objective of producing high-quality Falcata seeds for stakeholders in Region 10 and nearby areas in Mindanao. These initiatives support the development of industrial plantations that supply the wood industry and forest-based products, while also contributing to the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In 2016, Misamis University was selected as the official partner of the DENR–ERDB–FWRDEC for this noble endeavor, standing out among higher education institutions in Region 10. The project aims to establish a mother tree plantation using genetically superior progenies of the Falcata species. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between Dr. Karen Belina F. De Leon, representing Misamis University, and Forester Conrado B. Marquez, then Center Head of ERDB-FWRDEC.
The College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF) of Misamis University spearheaded the establishment of the plantation, under the leadership of former faculty member Forest Engineer Alfredo F. Garrido, Jr. The initiative involved the planting of 2,400 Falcata trees, including 100 progenies sourced from selected mother trees across Mindanao. The trees were planted with proper spacing and alternating patterns, and received regular maintenance to ensure optimal growth. Today, the plantation serves not only as a field laboratory for students and faculty but also as a resource hub for partner academic institutions and organizations involved in timber production. It likewise provides a sustainable source of high-quality planting materials
On July 8, 2025, a team from ERDB-FWRDEC, led by Senior Science Research Specialist Lourdes Agne and accompanied by technical staff Lydia Tiongco, Bethlehem Marie Magsayo, Ilyn Orella, and Angelina Olayan, visited Assistant Dean Dr. Gether Enario at the College of Agriculture and Forestry, Misamis University in Ozamiz City. During the visit, Dr. Enario discussed the objectives of the Falcata plantation and its significance to timber producers in Region 10. She noted that companies such as Novawood, Inc., a major wood processing plant in Misamis Occidental, currently source seeds from as far as Region 13.
Ms. Agne emphasized the plantation’s importance and expressed optimism for renewed collaboration between MU and FWRDEC, as the previous Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) expired in 2021. She underscored the need to sustain and fully utilize the established Falcata plantation through continued partnership. Following the discussion, the ERDB-FWRDEC team conducted a field visit to the 9-year-old plantation. It was joined by Assistant Dean Enario and Forester Bobby B. Alaman, a staff member of MUCEP.
This initiative is a testament to Misamis University's commitment to environmental sustainability and community-based reforestation. It demonstrates the university's proactive role in providing science-based solutions through the development of high-quality planting materials to meet the needs of industrial tree growers and forest-dependent stakeholders.
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