The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology, conducted its Annual Program Review and Planning Meeting in connection with its funded projects under the Mango R&D Program at the Council’s Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna recently.
Forty-eight people, including the evaluators, projects leaders, and staff participated in the said activity.
The activity is held annually in order to assess the Program’s accomplishments of the different component projects, identify R&D gaps for future initiatives, discuss issues/concerns, and recommend action plan for smooth implementation.
In an effort to further boost the mango industry, PCAARRD-DOST has forged several grants and funding agreement with other agencies and organizations, laying down other initiatives designed to increase and sustain mango production in the country.
PCAARRD-DOST, in collaboration with its partner member agencies, has poured in millions of pesos during the last three years for seedlings, distribution, post-harvest machinery, and capacity building. Efforts are also ongoing towards increasing the number of mango grower clusters in the target regions. The implementation of the projects is expected to further increase mango yield in each region as well as attain export quality fruits.
Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, Division Chief of the Crops Research Division presented the rationale and mechanics of the review while Engr. Maria Teresa De Guzman, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development joined the Panel of External Evaluators.
Eight projects under the Mango R&D program were presented and evaluated. These projects include:
- Project 1: Assessment of Productivity Enhancement Measures (PEMs) of Carabao Mangoes in Central Luzon, presented by its Project Leader Mrs. Florida A. Domingo, Coordinator of Crop Science at the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University (RMTU) in Iba, Zambales;
- Project 2: GIS – Based Analysis of Mango Production and Practices in Western Visayas, presented by its Project Leader Mr. Alan Dino E. Moscoso, Research Associate of the School of Technology, University of the Philippines, Miag-ao, Iloilo;
- Project 3: Improvement of Carabao Mango Fruit Characteristics with Resistance to Pests and Diseases, presented by its Project Leader Ms. Lolita DC. Valencia, Scientist I at the Institute of Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB);
- Project 4: Genetic Marker and Immuno-Based Identification of Philippine Carabao Mangoes, presented by its Project Leader Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, Vice President for Planning and Resource Generation, Visayas State University, Baybay, Leyte;
- Project 5: S&T Community-Based Farm on Mango Production in Bataan, presented by its Project Leader Dr. Hermogenes M. Paguia, Chairman of Extension, Bataan Peninsula State University, Abucay Campus;
- Project 6: Development of Pre- and Postharvest Tools and Machineries for Mango Production in Region XI, presented by its Project Leader Engr. Roger C. Montepio, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences, University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao del Sur;
- Project 7: S&T Integrated Crop Management (ICM) and GAP Adoption in Mango in Regions I, II, III, IV, VI, and XII, presented by Project Leader Dr. Leon O. Namuco, Department of Horticulture/ College of Agriculture - UPLB; and
- Project 8: S&T - Based Postharvest Quality Management (PQM) Adoption for Mango in Regions I, II, III, IV, VI, and XII, presented by its Project Leader Dr. Elda B. Esguerra, Postharvest Seed Sciences Division, UPLB.
The Project Management Inter-Agency Committee, Chaired by Dr. Ponciano A. Batugal of Farmers Community Development Foundation (FCDF), evaluated the projects.
The members of the Committee include Dr. Celia DR. Medina, Director of the Crop Protection Cluster, College of Agriculture, UPLB; Dr. Oscar S. Opina, pest management expert and Professor of the Crop Science Cluster, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture at UPLB; Engr. Arsenio N. Resurrecion, Team Leader, PCAARRD Agricultural Engineering Cluster, UPLB; and Mr. Enrico T. Batungbacal of the Beta Agricultural Products, Inc.
A field visit to various mango cooperating agencies namely, Institute of Plant Breeding and Postharvest Seed Sciences Division of UPLB in Los Baños, Laguna, and the Industrial Technology Development Institute in Bicutan, Taguig ensued the following day.