Ms. Kelia Cummins, the Director of the International Law Enforcement Affairs based at the US Embassy in Manila, visited Pangasinan on March 29, 2022, to spearhead the turnover of the 30-footer Fiberglass Reinforced Boat (FRB) to the Provincial Government of Pangasinan; and the mold and equipment to Pangasinan State University. Ms. Cummins was accompanied by her Program Management Assistant, Ms. Precious Bernardo, and the Deputy Chief of the Environment, Science and Technology, Ms. Tiffany Venmahavong; the Executive Director of Tanggol Kalikasan, Atty. Ronely B. Sheen and her staff; and the former Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Senior Legal Consultant of TK, Atty. Asis G. Perez. The group was welcomed by the PSU-VP for Quality Assurance, Dr. Elbert M. Galas; the PSU Binmaley Campus Executive Director, Dr. Roy C. Ferrer; and the whole IEG-PSU Team led by the IEG Coordinator, Dr. Shella C. Parreno.
The USDOI-INL is one of the funding agencies of the first and 2nd phase of the Environmental Justice Sector Reform Program implemented by PSU from 2017-2021, wherein the training and construction of fiberglass reinforced boat (FRB) is just one among the activities undertaken to support the LGUs in the exercise of their functions. The boat can be used in rescue operations at sea and during natural calamities like floods. It can boat can also be used in research to assess the coastal resources and in monitoring, patrolling, and surveillance in Lingayen Gulf. The FRB was constructed at PSU Urdaneta by participants from the Campus’ Engineering office and from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Dagupan, after a 2-day virtual training which was attended by the heads of different offices in the coastal municipalities of Pangasinan, La Union, and Ilocos Norte.