UP Diliman (UPD), through the UPD Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) to formalize its partnership in promoting academic cooperation, interface of marine studies, and tourism development in Tawi-Tawi.

Signed by UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II and MSU Tawi-Tawi Chancellor Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali, the MOU also covers other forms of collaboration between UPD and MSU, like capability training programs for the MSU faculty, research staff, and municipal tourism officers; curriculum development; faculty and student exchanges; and collaborative research projects, lectures, and symposia.

According to the AIT, “through the MOU, the AIT will continue its initiatives in support of education, research, and extension opportunities with MSU-TCTO, and in monitoring the sustainability of tourism development in the province.”

Richard Muallil, PhD, remarked that the MOU will help the MSU ensure its commitment to quality education for Muslims and other indigenous groups in Mindanao and the promotion of the environment and marine resources conservation through tourism development in Tawi-Tawi. Muallil is the MSU-TCTO vice chancellor for research, innovation, development, and extension.

Meanwhile, Vistan said the MOU provides for UPD “an opportunity to put into action the University’s research and extension agenda. Definitely, our strategic objective of institutionalizing multidisciplinary research for sustainable development and management will be highly supported. Most of all, it adheres to the public service nature of the university, helping to bring its expertise and resources to the fringes of the country.”

The AIT states that “MSU-TCTO is a constituent autonomous university of the MSU System renowned for fisheries and environmental science programs.”

The MOU signing was held on July 18 at the MAAS Kamlon in MSU-TCTO.

In a related development, Vistan and Edieser DL. Dela Santa, PhD, coordinator of the AIT Graduate Program, made a courtesy call to Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael I. Sali on July 18. They discussed UPD’s assistance in the preparation of a tourism master development plan for the province.—With a report from Milovy Mariel R. Baduria, AIT