TBTI Philippines

TBTI Philippines Signs MOA with Member-SUCs in Davao City, Philippines

The National Consortium for Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Research and Development or Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) Philippines had a formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing with the heads of six member-organizations on  13-14 of September, 2023, in Davao City, Philippines.

The member-organizations are state colleges and universities (SUCs) in the country. Formally joining TBTI Philippines through MOA signing in Davao City were the Bohol Island State University (BISU), Mindanao State University Main Campus (MSU Main), Mindoro State University (MinSU), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao), and Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST).

MOA signing of TBTI Philippines through UPV Chancellor and heads of BISU, MSU Main, MinSU, and UPLB in Davao City. Also in the photo are the TBTI Philippines Executive Director and SUC Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, and Professors.

MOA signing of TBTI Philippines through UPV Chancellor and heads of UP Mindanao and SPAMAST in Davao City. Also in the photo is the TBTI Philippines Executive Director, Prof. Alice Joan G. Ferrer.

The heads of member-SUCS of TBTI Philippines also attended the First UP-SUC Summit with a theme “Pagtutuloy, Pagtutulay: Strengthening Partnerships in Philippines Public Higher Education” held at the Grand Ballroom of Dusit Thani, Davao City. The summit is a gathering of leaders of Philippine SUCs, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officials, and interested stakeholders from Congress and private higher education institutions/ The goal of the summit is to promote engagement between the University of the Philippines and the Philippine SUCs.

SUC Heads of TBTI Philippines member-organizations with Prof. Alice Joan G. Ferrer, TBTI Philippines Executive Director in Davao City, Philippines.

Several SUC heads were invited as speakers to share about their respective SUC-initiated academic, research, and public service collaborations. One of them was Chancellor Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali from MSU-TCTO. Chancellor Guinto-Sali highlighted TBTI Philippines as one of their university’s notable projects and partnerships.

"Tawi-Tawi has a lot to offer and we are inviting our fellow SUCs to explore the possibilities of doing research with us and contribute to the growing knowledge of oceanography, fisheries, marine science, theology, food technology, language, culture and heritage.", Chancellor Guinto-Sali emphasized towards the end of her message.

Chancellor Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali from MSU-TCTO as one of the speakers in the UP-SUC Summit. Photo © MSU-TCTO FB Page.

Chancellor Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali highlighted TBTI Philippines as one of their university’s notable projects and partnerships.

The six SUCs formally join the 11 other SUCs who signed the MOA last 11 July 2023 in UPV in Iloilo City. 

MOA with 20 more SUCs are awaiting to be signed within the next two months. The 37 SUCs who sent their Letter of Intent to be a member of TBTI Philippines are known as its founding members. The UPV is the founding organization of TBTI Philippines.