The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST) formally recognized the outstanding contributions of its partners in the National Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research Development Network (NAARRDN).
Formally recognized in simple yet inspiring ceremonies were the awardees of the National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD) and the Elvira O. Tan Memorial Awards for Outstanding Fisheries Publication.
Given the theme “PCAARRD: Celebrating a legacy of S&T excellence and leadership,” the activity was conducted on November 10 at New World Hotel, Makati City and served as the Council’s 214th recognition ceremonies.
PCAARRD commits to adapt through the changing environment by creating meaningful science and technology (S&T) solutions to improve the quality of life of every Filipino.
Representatives of PCAARRD’s regional partners from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao attended the event.
Challenge for PCAARRD and the S&T community
In his message, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario G. Montejo, highlighted the Filipino spirit of compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness – traits that can be maximized in science and technology innovations.
Reacting to an inspiring first-page feature article published in Philippine Star on PCAARRD’s role in promoting and planting of coconut trees in typhoon-hit areas in Tacloban, Leyte, Montejo emphasized the need for the agency to step up and uphold its commitment by delivering the right technologies and innovations.
Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, PCAARRD executive director, on the other hand, challenged the NAARRDN to adapt to the changing environment and create innovations.
Congressman Victor Yu of the 1st district of Zamboanga del Sur and Chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology, in his keynote speech, talked on the development of agriculture as an agent for inclusive growth and how the Philippines can be competitive in the ASEAN region.
Yu cited the efforts of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in lowering the cost of rice production to become competitive with neighboring countries like Vietnam, where rice production cost was around P7 per kilo compared with the Philippines’ P11 per kilo.
Moreover, Yu reiterated the country’s need to focus on the growth of the agriculture sector to achieve inclusive growth. According to Yu, uplifting the economic condition of 12 million Filipinos in this sector can be a substantial contribution to poverty reduction.
R&D winners
The Elvira O. Tan Memorial Award is in honor of the outstanding achievements of the late Dr. Tan in the field of fisheries research and promotes excellence in fisheries science through publication of research results among Filipino scientists and researchers. The award is divided into two categories: inland fisheries/aquaculture category and marine fisheries category.
The winner of the Elvira O. Tan Memorial Awards for the inland fisheries/aquaculture category was “Induction of immunity and resistance to white spot syndrome virus in shrimp Pennous mondon (Fabricus) by synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide and bacterial DNA” by Edgar Amar and Joseph Falisan Jr. of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC), Tigbauan, Iloilo.
For the marine fisheries category, the winner was “Probability and resource rent of multi-gear fisheries in Lagonoy Gulf, Philippines” by Raul G. Bradecina of the Partido State University in Goa, Camarines Sur and Victor Soliman, Ronnel Dioneda, Sr., and Ninfa Pelea of the Bicol University Tabaco Campus, Tabaco City, Albay.
First place for NSAARRD under the development category was “Upscaling and intensification of aerobic rice production system through integrated research and extension approach: Improving productivity and enhancing technology towards rice self-sufficiency” by Orlando Balderama, et al. of the Isabela State University.
The second place went to the paper of Dr. Bede Ozaraga of the Capiz State University, titled “Production and distribution of ethnobotanical anthelmintics for free-range chickens.”
Under the research category, the first place went to “Fungal-derived extracellular cell wall-degrading enzymes as mycopesticides derived from Beauveria bassiana strains against tomato black leaf mold (TBLM) (Pseudocercospora fuligena)” by Dr. Jonar Yago, et al. of the Nueva Vizcaya State University. Second place went to Dr. Agnes Alimboyoguen, et al. of the Cavite State University for the paper “Bioactive tripertene from Dillenia philippinensis (Katmon).”