Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, who had served as Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) for 16 years, passed away on May 2, 2021 at the age of 70.
Popularly addressed as PSF and called as “Pat” by his relatives, friends, and colleagues, Dr. Faylon had lived a life in the service for the progress of the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector in his 43 years of career service in the government, 41 of which were spent at DOST-PCAARRD.
Dr. Faylon was instrumental in the consolidation of the then Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) and the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD) in 2011 into the current Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD); as well as the crafting of the 35 Industry Strategic S&T Plans (ISPs) in 2012. The 35 ISPs cover the commodities under crops, livestock, forestry and natural resources, inland aquatic, and marine resources.
The ISPs, which are relevant to the Council up to this day, serve as blueprints to achieve the national research and development vision of the Council.
“We at DOST-PCAARRD grieve together with Pat’s family in the passing of a great leader. The Council greatly benefits from the accomplishments during his time, especially the crafting of the ISPs in 2012, which created a true science-based AANR sector today,” said Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, current Executive Director of DOST-PCAARRD. “Rest assured that his legacy at the Council will be maintained and further improved.”
The legacy left by Dr. Faylon is encapsulated in his message in the 2014 PCAARRD Annual Report, to wit, “The true legacy one can leave behind is ensuring that the farmers and fisherfolk reap the benefits of S&T tools, know-hows, and innovations introduced by the projects and activities under the PCAARRD ISPs.”
A true servant for the people
Dr. Faylon rose from the ranks in the 41 years he spent serving the Council. A year after his graduation from his bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), he worked as Program Specialist in the former PCARRD and was promoted as Senior Subject Matter Specialist after finishing his Master of Science in Ruminant Nutrition/Production Economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
His interest in livestock research was his main motivator to take Doctor of Philosophy in Ruminant Nutrition and Physiology/Meat Processing/Forage and Pasture from UPLB in 1981. Dr. Faylon’s competence in the subject was well-recognized as he was assigned as Assistant Director and eventually the Acting Director and Director of the Livestock Research Division of PCARRD.
Recognizing his expertise in livestock science, the Department of Agriculture (DA) employed him briefly as Executive Director of the Livestock Development Council. In his position, he spearheaded the formulation of comprehensive policy guidelines for the development of the livestock industry. Dr. Faylon also served two other positions in DA: as program director of the Makamasa Livestock Program, where he led the formulation of programs designed to accelerate and expand viable livestock projects and as head of the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) Secretariat that implemented the policies, guidelines and procedures on MAV and recommended MMC the allocations of qualified MAV licensees, approved the MAV import certificate.
Dr. Faylon eventually returned to PCARRD in 1999 after serving at DA and was assigned as Executive Director, which he fulfilled until his retirement in 2015.
Beyond livestock research
As Executive Director, Dr. Faylon led the Council and the National Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Network (NARRDN) in various topics spanning the AANR sector. He also presented over 80 scientific and technical papers to various international and local conferences, symposia, and workshops with topics ranging from biotechnology R&D, good agricultural practices in crops commodity, and technology delivery programs.
However, Dr. Faylon still maintained his passion for livestock research. In 2014, a year before his retirement, the selection and breeding project to produce breeding true-to-type Philippine mallard ducks with predictable egg laying performance and product quality was launched. Today, the gains of the program are evident in the genetically superior duck breed, itikPINAS (IP), which has three strains – IP-Itim, IP-Khaki, and IP-Kayumanggi.
Moreover, a novel technique to detect and characterize Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) in Philippine goats was developed and utilized in the same year. The technique helped boost milk production in goat farms in the country as the virus greatly affects milk production in goats.
His last year in service also highlighted the launch of the book, “Compendium of Extension and Technology Transfer Modalities in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources in the Philippines,” which compiles the extension and technology transfer modalities that DOST-PCAARRD developed in the past 10 years. The compendium includes the Techno Gabay Program (TGP), Rural Enterprise Development (RED), Fisheries School-on-the Air (FSA), Fiseries School-on-the-Road (FOR), Conservation Farming Villages (CFV), Farmer-led Extension (FLE), Technology Business Incubation (TBI), Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA), and Pinoy S&T Services for Farmers and Entrepreneurs (PSF).
A man worthy of awards
Dr. Faylon was recognized inside and outside of DOST-PCAARRD. He was a Gawad Career Executive Service (CES) Awardee in 2010 and recipient of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) Most Distinguished Alumni Award for S&T in 2012.
Moreover, he was conferred with numerous scholarships, honors, and awards from different institutions, associations, and universities, which include: Research Management Award from the Crop Science Society of the Philippines in 2006; Research Leadership Excellence Award from the Philippine Association of Research Managers, Inc. PHILARM in 2006; Pisang Raja Award given by the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP) and Banana Asia Pacific Network (BAPNET) in 2005; Outstanding Citizen for Science and Technology from the LGU-Los Baños, Laguna in 2005; and Distinguished Alumnus Award for Management of R/DE Programs given by UPLB in 2002.