Department of Agriculture Receives Awards

DA-8 bags awards for outstanding R&D/E projects.

Tacloban City - The Department of Agriculture-8 grabbed most of the major awards under the search for “Outstanding R&D Projects and Best Poster Contest” as the 2-day Joint RRDEN & VICARP RDE Symposium held at the RELC, DepEd, Regional Office-8, Candahug, Palo, Leyte ended last July 8, 2009.

DA-8’s Regional Executive Director Leo P. Cañeda said, “This is the 21st year of conducting this activity. I am glad to note that so much has been done already in terms of Research, Development and Extension (RDE) through the good partnership between the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Project (VICARP) and the Regional Research, Development and Extension Network (RRDEN).”

RED Cañeda lauded the different agencies and other stakeholders, both from the government and private sectors, comprising the region’s research network, for their vital support to develop the agriculture sector.

He pointed out that Region 8 continues to hold the distinction of being the center of excellence for research in the Visayas. “We must ensure that whatever experiences and learning we generate will be used towards maintaining and even improving our performance as development catalyst,” Cañeda said.

“This activity is a good venue for the participants to break ideas on new technologies and other developmental information and give recognition as well, to those with feasible and viable R&D projects,” RED Cañeda further stated.

In his message, Calbayog City Mayor and Concurrent RDC Chair Mel Sarmiento stressed the need to support research. “We may have good researchers but without being given support, nothing will happen. My advice is, before anyone conducts research, please discuss it first with your respective local government units, agencies concerned, and/or other funding institutions. Basically, your research project should fit into the need of the community,” he said.

The activity was centered on the presentation of research papers for the search for Outstanding R&D Projects based on 3 categories: Development, Applied and Basic Research. Of the 15 research studies presented, the evaluation panel has unanimously chosen two Outstanding R&D projects of DA-8 and one for the Visayas State University (VSU).

The paper on Rural Enterprise Development through Innovative Goat Production Systems presented by Dir. Wilson A. Cerbito of DA-8 was chosen under the Development Project Category; the Adaptability Test of Available Technologies for the Management of Jackfruit Fruit Fly in Region 8 by Dr. Carlos de la Cruz and Ms. Brenda B. Almeroda, both from DA-8, under Applied Research and Antimicrobial Evaluation and Production Optimization of Bioactive Compounds produced by Endophytic Bacillus sp. Against Some Selected Food and Plant Pathogens of Julie D. Tan, et al of VSU for Basic Research.

On the other hand, for the Best Poster Award, the Development and Application of GIS for Livestock Diseases Monitoring in E. Visayas by Engr. Jecela A. Demegillo of DA-8 ranked 1st; Establishment and Management of Genebank of Economically Useful, Endangered and Endemic Forest Tree Species for Biodiversity Conservation by Loida Z. Nasayao of DENR-8 ranked 2nd; Efficacy of Chemical Activators of Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) for the Control of Bacterial Blight and Blast Diseases of Rice by L.M. Borines, et. Al of the VSU ranked 3rd; and The Potential of Protected Vegetable Cropping System in Leyte by O.B. Capuno, et al. of VSU and Sustaining the Initiatives and Achievements in Developing the Fruit Crops’ Seed System in Eastern Visayas by Carlos S. de la Cruz of DA-8, both garnered 4th place.

Prizes for the Outstanding R&D projects and the Best Poster Awards consist of a cash worth P5,000 and a plaque of recognition for each winner.

By Leyte Samar Daily

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