TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has opened an abaca tissue culture laboratory at Southern Leyte State University (SLSU)–Hinunangan Campus to boost the production of high-value crops in the province.

The P1-million project, funded through the DOST Grants-in-Aid (GIA) program, aims to produce high-quality, disease-free planting materials to increase crop yields, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

“These are technologies that make sure that starting planting material is healthy. Good production is necessary for any commodity, and it starts with good planting materials produced in a tissue culture laboratory,” Solidum said.

The facility will also function as a research and development center for indigenous and high-value crops, supporting innovation in sustainable agriculture.

Initial operations will focus on the Inosa variety of abaca, which thrives in Southern Leyte’s natural environment.

Solidum said tissue culture techniques will speed up abaca propagation and improve the quality of planting materials distributed to local farmers.

SLSU officials said the project has resumed full operations after additional Inosa abaca specimens were successfully cultured following earlier recovery efforts, allowing expansion of high-value crop production in the province.

The new laboratory is expected to strengthen SLSU-Hinunangan’s role in scientific research and agricultural innovation.