Dizon takes 2nd look at orchard proj

CLSU, Science City of Muñoz – Pomologist Bernie Dizon is taking a second look at an orchard project inside the premiere agricultural university in the north.

Fifteen years ago, Dizon provided the Central Luzon State University with several hundreds of top-quality planting materials of exotic high value fruit trees such as mangosteen, durian, longkong lanzones, Davao pummelo, Thai durian and rambutan, imported varieties of mangoes to be planted in an area measuring about 6.5 hectares.

The planting materials were products of modern technology culled by Dizon from his studies dating back to 1969 after his graduation from the CLSU College of Agriculture.

Dizon handed over the initial batch of planting materials, most of them multiple-rooted seedlings, to the CLSU president Fortunato A. Battad. The donation was covered by a memorandum of agreement signed by Battad and Dizon in 1995. Under the MOA, the university would provide the land space and promote Dizon’s plant technology. A prominent space near the front gate beside the guardhouse was provided to showcase the CLSU-Dizon techno-demo farm.

The 1995 agreement was never fully realized however, as the Dizon techno-demo farm was not given the attention that it needed. Furthermor, Dizon was never given the space near the front gate to showcase his technology.

On representation made by lawyer Romeo T. Capulong, Dizon was finally given an area measuring one-eight of a hectare by incumbent CLSU president Dr. Ruben C. Sevillega. However, the hald-hectare promotional are at the 2nd gate of the University has yet to be given to Dizon.

Among those who vouched for Dizon’s expertise was retired Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Floro P. Alejo who manages a five-hectare farm in Mapalad, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija. Judge Alejo is developing his farm and planting thereon high value crops such as superior varieties of mangoes, pomelos, rambutan, longkong (Thailand variety of lanzones), calamansi and other citrus.