The University of San Carlos signed a memorandum of understanding with Saga University’s Institute of Ocean Energy on October 13, 2025 at the Fr. Harold Rigney Hall in the Fr. Lawrence Bunzel Building in Talamban Campus.

The ceremony was highlighted by the presence of Hon. Hideaki Matsuo, Consul General of Japan in Cebu, as well as Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Office VII Director Dr. Tristan L. Abando, who gave messages of support for the partnership.

While reflecting on the long standing friendship between Japan and the Philippines, Consul General Matsuo remarked that this was a “partnership for the future” where clean energy can be harnessed from the oceans to benefit humanity. Consul Matsuo hoped that the partnership will help convert “the power of the ocean to the power of progress.”

For his part, Dr. Abando congratulated the University for forging this partnership and committed the full support of the DOST to future projects arising from this initiative. Dr. Abando emphasized that this initiative “resonates strongly with DOST’s mission to harness science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development.”

University President Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, Ph.D. signed the MOU for USC while Director of the Institute of Ocean Energy (IOES) Prof. Yasuyuki Ikegami signed for Saga University. 

In his acceptance speech, Prof. Ikegami remarked that Japan is an island nation similar to the Philippines and urged the University to make this a “not just a memorandum of understanding, but a memorandum of doing… of action and shared achievements.” He valued the partnership, citing an African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

The partnership will embark on joint research projects on ocean thermal energy conversion, wave energy, marine current, offshore wind, and tidal power generation among others. USC’s School of Engineering (SOE) will also have faculty and student exchanges with IOES, according to SOE Dean Dr. Rosana J. Ferolin.

Among the USC officials present (see photo above) during the signing ceremony were Vice President for Administration Atty. Joan S. Largo, Ll.M., External Relations and Internationalization Office Director Br. Bela Lanyi, SVD, RDEPO Director Dr. Patrick John Y. Lim, ITSO Manager Dr. Danilo B. Largo, KTTO Director Dr. Angelo Cabije, SOE Asst. Dean Dr. Ramelito Agapay, and SOE Chairs Dr. Francis Dave Siacor (Chemical Engineering), Dr. Janice Jamora (Civil Engineering), Dr. Antoniette Cañete (Computer Engineering), Lorafe Lozano (Industrial Engineering), and Michael Loretero (Mechanical Engineering). Members of the Ocean Thermal Energy Association (OTEA) of the Philippines led by Dr. Carmelo Dilao were also present during the event.