CebuTech-Argao| CTU RISE’ third phase with Breadfruit: Research and Innovation for Sustainable Ecosystem with Breadfruit Solutions project, the Biodiversity, Environment, and Natural Resources Research Center of CebuTech Argao and the Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities, in partnership with the Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAO) of Santa Fe, Madridejos, and Bantayan, Cebu, brought the third phase of its outreach initiative on breadfruit food processing and asexual propagation to CTU-Bantayan Extension Campus on June 4-5, 2025 .

The extension activity gathered individuals from the aforesaid three Bantayan Island municipalities, including farmers’ associations, women’s groups, teachers from the Department of Education, and out-of-school youths who were eager to know what the breadfruit tree and fruit could offer.

BENRC Director Prof. Hemres M. Alburo emphasized during his statement of purpose that breadfruit is one of the undervalued indigenous fruits. Commonly, people only utilized it by making breadfruit cue and cooking it with coconut milk. But when it is processed into a breadfruit meat and flour, a lot of goodies could be possibly made; hence, it could potentially be a new food source and an ideal livelihood for the people.

“CTU-Argao Campus made us realized that (cooking) breadfruit is not only limited to the usual recipe that we have known. With the knowledge they imparted to us, we can now upgrade (into trying various food innovations utilizing breadfruit),” said an educator participant.

“I think it is also good to extend this knowledge (what we learned here) to our kids/students because knowledge cannot be taken away and the skill is something we could carry even if we grow older,”another participant named Liezel Aquino expressed during the forum.

Present during the 2-day extension services were Prof. Alburo together with the Center’s Tissue Culture Laboratory Director/OIC, Instructor Jannu Geuseppe C. Clemena and Food Laboratory In-Charge, Assistant Prof. Marjorie De Joya, seven science research assistants, SEED4Com staff, and Campus Dir. Girlie Fariola of CTU Bantayan.

Following the successful launch of the outreach initiative in Camotes Island and Alegria, Cebu in 2024, the team brought its 3^rd phase in Bantayan Island, Cebu, targeting a larger audience. Both parties, the BENRC and SEED4Com aim to continue extending the activity not only within the Province of Cebu but to the rest of Central Visayas. / Melvin T. Benemerito