The Central Luzon State University (CLSU) BaCaDM Research Team participated and co-organized the BaCaDM-SATREPS International Symposium, Training, and Project Meeting of the Project for the Development of Novel Diseases Management Systems for Banana and Cacao (BaCaDM) held at Tamagawa University in Tokyo, Japan from March 1 to 5, 2026.

CLSU research team headed by Dr. Evaristo A. Abella, CLSU President; Dr. Ariel G. Mactal, Vice President for Administration; Dr. Parsons N. Hail, Director of the International Affairs Office (IAO), Project Manager, and Leader 4 of BaCaDM; Dr. Elaida Fiegalan, Project 2 Leader and Director of the CLSU Plant Pests and Diseases Clinic, Surveillance, and Research Center; and Dr. Dionisio Alvindia, university affiliate professor and Director IV of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech).

Dr. Parsons N. Hail, Project Manager presented findings on the Farmers Reality Assessment: Evaluation of environmental, social and economic impacts of the novel and integrated technologies developed by the Project on banana and cacao production; while Dr. Elaida R. Fiegalan presented the Responsible Management of Microbial Strains, Knowledge Platforms, and Genetic Resources, and the establishment of the CLSU Biobanking as part of the Project outcomes.

The symposium and the series of project meetings are part of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) Technical Cooperation Project (2021–2026), a collaborative initiative jointly supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The BaCaDM project seeks to develop innovative disease management systems that will contribute to sustainable production and a stable supply of banana and cacao crops.

During the five-day engagement, the CLSU BaCaDM team participated in series of meetings and planning, research findings presentations, engaged with JICA, SATREPS, Embassy of Philippines in Japan Ambassador, and Tamagawa University’s officials, and technical discussions with international partners regarding the progress of the project and emerging challenges in crop disease management.

Also joining the delegation were Ms. Princess Mae Hidalgo, Mr. Almarc A. Marco, and Dr. Darwin Landicho, project members and technical personnel who assisted in the implementation and coordination of the team’s activities throughout the symposium.