The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), in collaboration with Socio-Economic Research and Data Analytics Center (SERDAC), organized a seminar series on socio-economic researches in agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources.
The seminar was held on June 14, July 31, and August 31, 2018 at the Central Luzon University (CLSU), Visayas State University (VSU), and University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), respectively. It was conducted to provide a venue for dissemination and discussion of policy and relevant issues, as well as to improve appreciation of socio-economic researches as an effective tool in policy-making.
The results of the two recently concluded PCAARRD-funded studies titled, “Analysis of S&T-Related Institutional Capacity and Readiness to Effectively Implement the Food Safety Act” and “ASEAN Economic Community: Opportunities and Implications on Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry,” were presented in the seminar.
The speakers were composed of the project leaders and staff from the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). Dr. Isabelita Pabuayon of the College of Economics and Management (CEM), together with Prof. Nelson Jose Vincent Querijero of College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAF), Dr. Mildred Padilla of College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Dr. Ma. Josie Sumague of College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS), and Dr. Simplicio Medina of CAFS, discussed the Food Safety topic; while Prof. Niño Alejandro Manalo, Prof. Geny Lapiña, and Prof. Rowena Dorado of CEM tackled the AEC paper.
“We have to let our external public know what is going on to promote public health and protect consumers from unsafe and hazardous food – rising incidence of disease outbreaks and food poisoning and new demands of consumers for increased regulation,” Dr. Pabuayon said. “We need to understand the competitive potential of our commodities in the international and local market so we can make informed decisions,” Prof. Manalo added.
Both of them are hopeful that the seminar series will inform and guide the public in ensuring that our products use food safety standards that meet the requirements of international trade to be competitive and be able to take advantage of the AEC.
More than 300 participants from the academe, government agencies, local government units (LGUs), National Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Network (NAARRDN), and the private sector, attended the seminar series from June to August 2018.
Among the government agencies present included the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), DOST, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and Department of Tourism (DOT).
The activity was led by PCAARRD’s Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD) and was made possible through the support of SERDAC offices in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Three of the four SERDAC centers were funded by PCAARRD to strengthen socio-economics research all over the country. These centers are headed by Dr. Maria Excelsis Orden of CLSU, Dr. Moises Neil Seriño of VSU, and Prof. Jennifer Hinlo of USeP.