Three full-time researchers from the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) have been appointed as members of various Technical Working Groups (TWG) under the National Seed Industry Council, as stated in the Special Order No. 61, series of 2025, issued by the Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on January 10.
The appointed researchers are Ms. Marissa I. Atis for the Vegetable Varietal Improvement Group, Ms. Noralyn B. Legaspi for the Rootcrops Varietal Improvement Group, and Mr. Mario I. Remolacio for the Corn and Sorghum Varietal Improvement Group. Two other MMSU faculty members Dr. Jocelyn A. Bernabe and Mr. Bryan S. Pungtilan from the College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development were also designated as members of the Field Legumes Varietal Improvement Group and Rice Varietal Improvement Group, respectively. The MMSU experts join other appointees from various universities, government agencies, and private institutions, representing the 11 TWGs of the NSIC.
Their appointments are pursuant to Section 10 of Republic Act (RA) 7308, or the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992 mandating the creation of a Technical Secretariat under the NSIC and its Implementing Rules and Regulations indicating that the Secretariat is composed of 11 TWGs whose members are experts from various institutions and agencies involved in the seed industry. The TWGs are tasked to establish seed standards and enhance systems for varietal identification, evaluation, and approval processes.
The MMSU experts were selected after the university nominated them in response to a call from the NSIC, whose appointments were confirmed after a thorough evaluation. They will serve a two-year term as TWG members.
