Mr. Gerardo B. Baylon is the Division Chief III of the Plant Genetic Resources, Conservation, and Utilization Division(PGRCUD) of the Philippine Coconut Authority - Zamboanga Research Center (PCA-ZRC). He has dedicated most of his career as a researcher to coconut, specializing in coconut breeding and genetics, horticulture/plant physiology, coconut farm management, and coconut oil mill operation and oil chemistry.
Presently, Mr. Baylon leads two projects funded by DOST-PCAARRD through the CHP Research. His projects include (1) developing multi-parent coconut populations using dwarf and composite varieties for increased oil and nut yield and enhancing tolerance/resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses and (2) collecting and conserving the country’s coconut genetic resources from the geographically remote areas using embryo culture protocol.