ISUFST wins top research award at global conference

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The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) San Enrique Campus won the Best Conference Paper Award at the 2025 International Research and Innovation Conference in Education, Engineering, and Agriculture (IRICEEA) for its study titled “Automated Oyster Mushroom Production: A Comparative Study.”

The winning paper was authored by Instructors Jessa D. Alico, Rezeld P. Alarva, and Dave Allan A. Tagacay.

Held Dec. 3–5, 2025, the international conference brought together faculty researchers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, the United States, Bangladesh, Ukraine, and Romania. Research was presented under three major disciplines: education, engineering, and agriculture.

The conference was organized by Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University and held at the Ignition Pavilion R Garage in Bauang, La Union, with additional sessions at the DMMMSU Mid La Union Campus.

ISUFST’s mushroom production study outperformed other entries in the agriculture category, including those in the Agricultural Products and Resources division, earning two Best Paper Awards.

“This is our university’s first time to attend IRICEEA,” said Dr. Emelyn B. Ligasan, chair of research and development, during her speech. “The team is overjoyed by this unexpected victory. This is not ours alone—we share the pride with our university. We will continue to pursue research that serves the community and benefits the people.”

In a phone interview, Dr. Joan M. Belga also extended her congratulations to the team, saying, “Yes, you have a lot to celebrate—including this and your high board [ALE] passing percentage.”

ISUFST San Enrique Campus delegates to IRICEEA 2025 included Instructors Jessa D. Alico and Rezeld P. Alarva for the agriculture category, and Dr. Emelyn B. Ligasan, Dr. Mary Joy B. Mendoza, and Instructor Russel M. Yamit for the education category.

The university’s debut at IRICEEA—marked by a major win—highlights the strength of ISUFST’s faculty research in both national and international arenas. (Photos by Rezeld PAlarva | Text by Russel Yamit | PAMMCO)