BATASAN HILLS, Quezon City ─ Science and Technology (S&T) perked up an otherwise typical legislative week in Congress via a special exhibit dubbed “PCAARRD’s Technology Dissemination Program: Hastening countryside development through technology transfer”.
Filling the North Wing Lobby of the House of Representatives from March 11 to 15 were different healthy flavors of science (food products) and information materials on agriculture S&T.
Thus, members of Congress and their staff were treated to flavorful cups of organic arabica coffee from the Cordilleras; deliciously guilt-free coco sugar and other products from Zamboanga and Davao; antioxidant-rich pili oil from Bicol; and healthy snacks made from ‘Bongulan’ banana chips of Cotabato, alongside the rich reading materials also given free.
The exhibit, mounted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), was an effort to reach out and update the Congress of the Council’s programs and initiatives.
Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, PCAARRD executive director, encouraged members of Congress to “take a glimpse of what the Council is doing to contribute to the S&T policy environment through R&D and tech transfer activities”.
”The exhibit highlights PCAARRD’s R&D contribution to the legislative approval of the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009. This is part of the agency’s nationwide advocacy and information campaign on the Act. It underscores the synergy of efforts emanating from the legislative and the S&T sector”, Faylon elaborated.
Alyansa ng mga Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan (AGHAM) Party List Representative Angelo B. Palmones welcomed the exhibit to Congress.
In his welcome remarks, he recognized “the poor state of S&T knowledge in the country, which is yet to be widely shared and wisely applied to help lessen poverty in the country”.
Palmones noted PCAARRD’s effort “to shift away from the elitist and conservative view of S&T to one that is inclusive and populist to reach out and benefit more the less privileged of our people”.
He praised the holding of the exhibit as an effort in addressing the challenge of “how to deliver scientific and technical information in interesting and enjoyable manner”.
Rep. Agapito H. Guanlao of Butil Partylist and chair of the Congressional Special Committee on Food Security echoed a similar observation in his message during the opening of the exhibit.
“This proves that the country’s S&T arm is committed to assist in uplifting farming and increasing food production through research and development…. This will greatly help the farmers in developing ways to secure sufficient food for the population”.
Seen checking out the exhibit were Rep. Ronald M. Casalan, lone district of Benguet; Rep. Arturo B. Robes, lone district of San Jose del Monte City; Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, 2nd District of Cavite; Rep. Mohammed Hussein P. Pangandaman, 1st District of Lanao del Sur; Rep. Hermilando I. Mandanas, 2nd District of Batangas; Rep. Ma. Evita R. Arago, 3rd District of Laguna; and Rep. Teddy A. Casiño of Bayan Muna Partylist.
Several congressional staff visited as well. These included Josephine dC Dominguez, former representative of Mountain Province and now consultant at the Office of Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr. Also seen were the staff members of Rep. Palmones led by Victoria B. Bartilet, and AGHAM’s Dr. Florentino Tesoro.