I have been employed at BIOTECH-UPLB for more than 30 years and as a researcher have conducted studies on: commercially important enzymes for different industrial applications (e.g. cellulases, lipases, ligninase), development of a PCR-based diagnostic kit for the detection of food pathogens and development of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) system that utilizes mud and water from Mt. Makiling mudspring system to generate bioelectricity.

I am also involved in the technology for dietary sugar, xylitol fermentation using the hydrolysates of agricultural wastes (e.g. corn cobs, corn stovers and sugarcane bagasse) as substrate as well as the development of a thermos-acid stable Endoglucanase enzyme for utilization in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials.

Lastly, my current research topic is on the microbial degradation of plastics [e.g. low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terepthalate (PET)], and the wastes from domestic and industrial (e.g. used cooking oil, used motor engine oil) sources.