The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) won two awards at the 19th UP ComBroadSoc Gandingan Awards 2025, achieving a 3-year winning streak. This year’s ceremony was held at the DL Umali Hall, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), last April 26, 2025, with the theme, “Tagahabi ng Kasaysayan Para sa Bayan.”
Lakbay GALING was hailed as the Most Development-Oriented Livelihood Program for its episode highlighting the importance of community mobilization programs to improve the lives of small-scale farmer communities in Mindanao.
‘Sa pamamagitan ng mga proyektong katulad ng Tablea: Pangkabuhayan para sa Kotabateñong Pamayanan, ang mga magsasaka na dati’y nawalan ng trabaho o ‘di kaya nama’y hirap sa kanilang pang araw-araw na kita ay nabigyan ng proyektong pangkabuhayan at nakapag-bahagi pa ng kaalaman sa kanilang kapwa,’ said DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora during his acceptance speech.
(With the help of the Tablea Livelihood Project for the North Cotabato community, the unemployed and struggling farmers now have the opportunity to have another source of income and even share their knowledge with their peers.)
The project, led by Dr. Ardniel Baladjay of the University of Southern Mindanao, featured the story of the Aleosan Cacao Farmers Association (ACFA) in manufacturing and producing quality products made from cacao in North Cotabato.
Meanwhile, the Saribuhay series was hailed as this year’s Most Development-Oriented S&T Program for its episode showcasing the results of a decade-long research on the changes in the coral, algal assemblages, and sponge covers of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
Monitored by DOST-PCAARRD’s Marine Resources Research Division (MRRD), the project was led by Dr. Wilfredo Licuanan of the De La Salle University Br. Alfred Shields FSC Ocean Research (SHORE) Center, with the Tubbataha Management Office as a cooperating agency.
‘Ang pagkilalang ito ay magsisilbing inspirasyon upang patuloy na ipagdiwang ang ganda ng ating Saribuhay lalung lalo na ang yaman ng ating karagatan. Patuloy nating isulong na mapangalagaan at maproteksyunan ang mga ito at maging ehemplo ng mga susunod na henerasyon sa pagsulat ng kasaysayan ng saribuhay ng ating bansa,’ said Dr. Ebora.
(This recognition inspires us to continue our efforts in showcasing the beauty of our environment, especially marine biodiversity. Let us continue advocating environmental conservation and protection to set an example for future generations in the history of Philippine biodiversity.)
The Saribuhay series was also nominated for two other categories, specifically:
- Most Development-Oriented Educational Program - Saribuhay episode, ‘Paano natin mapayayabong ang mga halamang gamot sa ating bansa?’
- Most Development-Oriented Environmental Program - Saribuhay episode, ‘Anu-ano ang saribuhay na matatagpuan sa Mt. Banahaw?’
Since 2021, DOST-PCAARRD’s Lakbay GALING and Saribuhay YouTube series have been serving as a platform to promote the science and technology (S&T) initiatives for livelihood and biodiversity conservation, respectively.
Watch the full episodes of Lakbay GALING and Saribuhay series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DOSTPCAARRD