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After a year of training, seven trainees were finally recognized as Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT) meisters during the joint Graduation Ceremony held at the Multipurpose Hall, Admin. building on July 25, 2022.

In her message, Project leader and University President Dr. Dugyon lauded the graduates of the 7th batch of the Ifugao Satoyama Meister Training Program (ISMTP).

“With great pride and honor, I extend my felicitation to our newly designated Ifugao Satoyama Meisters! Together, we will hold high the torch of excellence amidst the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Province of Ifugao,” she said.

The seven graduates are Margarette P. Culdi, Jade B. Dulnuan, Leticia L. Lagayan, Stephanie S. Ayahao, Louiellen Hazel C. Batton, Grace M. Francisco, and Marlyn M. Naliwan.

Dr. Dugyon expressed hope to see the new ISMTP graduates in the ranks of the 100 alumni network members who are now at the forefront in their capacities as heritage workers and rice terraces conservationists.

"You are hereby required to cascade your ISMTP education to your communities and materialize the research projects you have initiated and authored,” she added.

Prof. Koji Nakamura, Adviser for ISMTP and Professor Emeritus at Kanazawa University in Japan, said in his virtual message that the ceremony is a huge achievement in the history of the human capacity-building program. He encouraged the graduates, as counterparts in the conservation of the IRT, to be proactive in heritage conservation and be committed to addressing the current challenges of the IRT.

Started on January 2021, the seven meisters underwent a series of lectures, workshops, skills training, field exposures, and research. The graduates also were also imbibed with knowledge and skills in heritage conservation, sustainable tourism, sustainable agriculture, conservation entrepreneurship, and forest management, among others.

The ISMTP is a human capacity-building program that involves local and international partners towards IP implementation, IRT sustainable development, and the Ifugao Heritage preservation. This is being implemented by IFSU under the research and Development Center for the IRT-Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).