LA TRINIDAD, Benguet ─ To build the capacity of researchers from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development’s (PCAARRD) consortia member agencies in implementing impact assessment studies, a training-workshop on “Comprehensive impact assessment of research and development (R&D) and technology commercialization programs in agriculture, aquatic and natural resources” was recently held at the Agricultural Training Institute, Benguet State University (BSU).
Thirty researchers and research coordinators from PCAARRD and various state universities and colleges (SUCs) participated in the training. The SUCs included Bicol University, Cagayan State University, Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Laguna State Polytechnic University, Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology, University of the Philippines Visayas, University of Southeastern Philippines, and BSU.
Tapped as resource persons were experts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and CLSU. These experts included Dr. Maria Excelsis Orden, Prof. Nimfa Montes, Dr. Yolanda Garcia, Ms. Princess Alma Ani, and Prof. Normito Zapata, Jr.
In a welcome speech, Dr. Albert Aquino, director of the Socio-Economics Research Division, emphasized the inclusion of fisheries in the Council’s program initiatives due to the consolidation the of Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development in June 2011.
Gracing the closing ceremonies of the workshop was BSU President Ben Ladilad who delivered a message on the importance of R&D and of assessing its impacts.