Banga, Aklan – The Tourism Education Laboratory on Food Processing at the Aklan State University held its inauguration and blessing on April 27, 2006 with the presence of Commissioner Hadja Luningning Misuares-Umar of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Chair of the ASU Board of Regents.

Commissioner Umar stressed in her message that the activity manifests the university’s commitment to higher education and to go international. She said that the laboratory on food processing is in response to the PGMA Education-Tourism Program of making the Philippines as Tourists’ Haven and Knowledge Center in Education in Asia and the Pacific. The said program takes advantage of the strengths of the Philippine Education System and at the same time tap the dollar-earning capacity of tourism through innovative programs that cater to foreign tourists. The PGMA Tourism-Education Program is up for implementation in selected State Universities and Colleges in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao which are situated in tourist destinations.

With the Province of Aklan having the world-famous Boracay Island as a tourist destination, the ASU has been chosen by CHED to implement the education tourism packages in Western Visayas. The University will soon be playing host to tourists who will be taking up short term courses through the food processing laboratory which would mean additional income for the University.

Commissioner Umar had appropriated an amount of P100,000.00 for the project, which aim not only to help boost the country’s dollar earnings but put the University in the education map of the world as well. It will also open doors for linkages with other foreign institutions through the tourists who will be taking up short term courses in ASU.

She expressed her gratitude to Director Zinnia P. Teruel of DOST Region VI for the technical and financial assistance extended to the laboratory on food processing. Likewise, to Dr. Benny A. Palma, ASU President, for the fast implementation of the PGMA Tourism-Education Program in ASU and for holding record of being the first SUC in the country to implement the said program.

The program is in partnership with CHED, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Science and Technology.