DOST-PCAARRD Initiatives in Support of the Bayanihan Act

Two major programs of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) contributes to the Bayanihan Act by distributing food and non-food products in COVID-19 affected communities and frontline hospitals. Products, valued at P1.1 million, produced under the National Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) and the Science for the Convergence of Agriculture and Tourism (SciCAT) Programs will be distributed in selected areas in the country.

ATBI products, valued at P840,000, generated by startup incubatees include upland and lowland vegetables, mushroom products, herbal teas, various natural juices and concentrates, detergents, disinfectants and handwashes, poultry and goat products, and seedlings of herbal plants. Said products are outputs of technical trainings and trial runs of the incubatees originally intended for product testing and market validation, which had been on hold because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

ATBI Program’s partner-agencies to be involved in the distribution include: Benguet State University, Central Luzon State University, Isabela State University, Laguna State Polytechnic University, Capiz State University, Central Mindanao University, and Sultan Kudarat State University. Nearby communities and frontline hospitals near these state universities are the target beneficiaries of the product distribution and will be closely coordinated with the concerned local government units.

On the other hand, the SciCAT partner-agencies and cooperating farm tourism sites include: DOST X (for Bukidnon and Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Tourism Farm); University of Southeastern Philippines (for Dimpas Greentigrated Farm); and Cavite State University (for Silan Farm).
Products generated by the SciCAT farm tourism sites include organic rice, papaya, duck eggs, and upland and lowland vegetables. These products valued at P260 thousand were produced in the demonstration areas within the farm tourism sites that showcased various DOST-PCAARRD generated technologies.

PCAARRD is one of the sectoral councils of the DOST, which is mandated to formulate policies, plans, and programs for science and technology-based R&D in the different sectors under its concern. It coordinates, evaluates, and monitors the national R&D efforts in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector. It also allocates government and external funds for R&D and generates resources to support its program.