By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

In its aggressive quest to nurture the innovation culture in Region I, the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC) opened its much-anticipated Regional Symposium on Research and Development Highlights today, February 1 at the Mariano Marcos State University, City of Batac. 

Featuring R&D breakthroughs of the Ilocos region’s higher education institutions and government agencies, this year’s symposium revolves around the theme, “Pagkain sa bansa ay siguraduhin, likas-yamang produksyon ng agrikultura’t pangisdaan ay isulong natin ayon sa pagbabago ng panahon.” 

The three-day event aims to present the most significant R&D findings and activities of the consortium member institutions (CMIs) in the Ilocos region. It gathered over a hundred of technology generators, researchers, subject matter specialists, extension workers, policy makers, farmers, entrepreneurs, students and representatives from government and non-government institutions. 

The opening of the MMSU-hosted activity was keynoted by Philippine Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert EA Borje. It was also graced by CCC commissioners Atty. Rachel Anne Herrera and Atty. Albert Dela Cruz, and other personnel from the commission. 

CCC director Borje lauded the efforts of the local government in Ilocos Norte and R&D institutions in the region in implementing climate action initiatives to communities. He also underscored the important role of scientific community in addressing the adverse effects of climate change. 

“I look forward to see the research breakthroughs and findings, and hope that these will be part of the continued efforts of the government toward being a climate-smart and climate-resilient Philippines by 2050,” he said to the symposium participants. 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis, also the chair of ILAARRDEC Regional Research and Development Coordinating Council (RRDCC), also stressed “our consortium is called to help address issues such as dwindling supplies, rising cost of farm inputs, and loss of income and productivity among farmers and fisherfolk, given our vulnerability to climate change.”

 
“This symposium will be very vital in keeping our end-users abreast with newly developed technologies and to foster multi-agency R&D undertakings, which is our humble contribution to climate change,” said ILAARRDEC Acting Program Leader Nathaniel Alibuyog, also the MMSU vice president for research and extension. 

For her part, Atty. Herrera said women and youth leaders should be at the heart of the national and regional movement against climate crisis because these sectors are more susceptible to extreme weather events and disasters. 

Atty. Dela Cruz seconded, challenging the scientific community to work more on ensuring food security in the region. “Today’s event is the answer,” he said.

Primarily, the regional symposium highlights the oral presentation and poster pitching of various science-based initiatives under the research and development categories. Nine papers under the research category and 16 papers under the development category are included in the oral presentation. In the poster pitching, 23 entries are included under the research category, while 10 entries fall under the development category.  

Prior to their entry in the regional symposium, these R&D papers were selected during the commodity reviews and endorsed, validated, and approved by the consortium’s Regional Research and Development Group, and approved by its RRDCC. 

Evaluators of the R&D papers, who come from various universities and agencies outside the Ilocos region, will determine the winners in the oral presentation and poster pitching for each of the categories. These will serve as the region’s entries for the National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development to be organized by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development. 

Outgoing ILAARRDEC officials and former members of the then Regional Knowledge Management Group were also recognized during the activity’s opening program for their service to the consortium; and, the winners of the 33rd R&D symposium in 2021 were also awarded cash prizes. 

In addition, a technology forum will be conducted, where four CMI-developed technologies, such as the mechanized dry direct seeding, High-Density Polyethylene salt production, onion harvester, and breeding and hatchery of ornamental fish will be presented. Private companies like the SL Agritech Corporation, Seedwork Philippines, Inc., and the Longpin Tropical Rice Development, Inc. will also showcase their respective technologies. 

Established in December 21, 1979, ILAARRDEC is a conglomerate of 18 member-institutions which envisions to become a responsive regional hub in agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources for resilient, creative, and innovative Ilocandia. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)