Lipa Agricultural Research & Experiment Station

By virtue of the Batangas Provincial Board Resolution No. 3 dated April 18, 1931, a fifty-hectare land in Marawoy, Lipa City was donated for agricultural and experimental purposes. Research on citrus was initiated. For the past years, the station has been the foundation of the citrus industry in Batangas owing to its culture of the premier varieties and hybrids of citrus. It is the prime source of various citrus plants that abound in many places particularly in Bicol region, and in the provinces of Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, and Quezon. The golden history of the citrus industry, particularly in Lipa City, has contributed to the economy and improved the living condition of the workers. However, due to mottling disease, the citrus industry declined. Furthermore, portions of the area were utilized by the national as well as the local government unit of Lipa. In 1971, the Lipa City Government passed a resolution to rename the station in honor of Dr. Manuel L. Roxas, an eminent scientist and illustrious citizen of Lipa and the first to serve as Director of BPI. In 1976, an area of one hectare under Lot No. 1286-A was utilized as Balintawak Elementary School (now Abundio Torre Memorial School) and lot No. 1286-B (two hectares) was used as breeding station of the National Stud Farm. In 1987, seven hectares were utilized for the establishment of the International Training Institute for Pig Husbandry (ITCPH).

In 1983, the station was integrated with the Department of Agriculture Region IV and became the seat of the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Systems (RIARS) office. Since then, it has served as a research outreach station. In 1989, through Executive Order No. 116, the station was again renamed as Dr. Manuel L. Roxas Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Station.

In 2005, an area of 4.8 hectares was granted to the Lipa City Government for the establishment of a material recovery facility which was demolished, then a school, Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa was constructed. 

The station is located at J.P. Laurel Highway, 01 Brgy. Marawoy, Lipa City, Batangas 4217 situated at an elevation of 312 m. above sea level. It is approximately 78 km. from Manila and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to travel by car via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road or STAR Tollway using Lipa Balete Exit. while it is a 30-minute drive from Batangas International Port via the STAR tollway. The station is bounded by the government offices (BIR, PSA and Fiesta Mall) in the north, the Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa in the east, SM City Lipa in the south and Lipa City Hall and LTO district office in the west. Also, the station is surrounded by other commercial establishments like shopping malls and other businesses including residential areas like housing and subdivisions.