The Montañosa Research and Development Center, Inc. (MRDC), was established in 1978. Its formation was a response to the realities of development aggression and the need to face the challenge of searching for mechanisms that will promote peoples’ involvement in the development process. This was premised on the view that progressive change can only occur with people’s full participation, in their own interest, at their own pace and effectively integrated in their socio-cultural and political dynamics. Moreover, MRDC fully recognize that, like other indigenous people’s, the Igorots of the Cordillera Region possess the scientific knowledge of the biophysical conditions of the land and an understanding of the balance of interactions between land and people. As such, they are crucial in giving substance to a development strategy of resource utilization that will generate long term benefits for the greater majority.
Since then, MRDC has consistently pursued meaningful development concepts on sustainable agriculture and renewable energy. Among its breakthrough projects are (1) documentation, innovations and adoption of indigenous knowledge and practices (b)harnessing renewable energies for community development; (c) forestry and grassland development; (d) narketing of organically-grown products, etc.