Strengthening the local onion industry through data-driven strategies, the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office I (DA-RFO 1) officially awarded a financial support of P921,360.00 to the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus (DMMMSU-NLUC) on January 14, 2026 at the DA Regional Office.

The financial assistance, facilitated through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), supports the research project titled “Optimizing Networks and Insights on Onions in the North (ONION): A Market Analysis in the Ilocos Region to Identify Opportunities and Navigate Challenges.”

Engr. Dennis I. Tactac, Regional Technical Director for Operations, and Ms. Rhoda Galban, OIC-AMAD Chief, spearheaded the turnover.

Accepting the funding aide on behalf of DMMMSU were Study leader Dr. Arnelie Laquidan, along with study members Dr. Joana Quinquito, Engr. Roy Laquidan, and Ms. Leny Grace Garcia.

The Onion study aims to map out the value chain and identify critical market interventions to help Ilocos farmers navigate price fluctuations and logistical hurdles. This partnership underscores DA-RFO 1’s commitment to bridging the gap between academic research and practical agribusiness solutions.