The Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) opened its doors to the officers of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) scholars association as it crafts the association activities and directions for the coming year. Dr. Honorio M. Soriano, Jr., PSAU President and the incumbent President of the scholars association spearheaded the meeting of the Board of Directors (BOD) held on January 31, 2017 in Magalang, Pampanga.
“We would like to encourage more participation among the association members in the activities that will be lined up for this year and the succeeding years.” This was stressed by Dr. Soriano during the said BOD meeting. To achieve this goal, the association is looking at activities that are beneficial to both the individuals and their institutions. “With this perspective, we are hoping to involve the heads of their (scholars) home institutions and forge agreements along the way,” he added.
For 2017, the association is poised at expanding the association membership and conducting its biennial convention that will look at the challenges and opportunities of the ASEAN Integration.
Meanwhile, DOST-PCAARRD has expressed its unwavering support to the said association, as well as its planned activities. “Many of our scholars are now leaders in their respective institutions, while a good number are actively involved in DOST-PCAARRD supported projects. These simply confirm PCAARRD’s relevance in developing the human resources of the agriculture, aquatic and natural resources sector in the country.” This was emphasized by Dr. Juanito T. Batalon, Director of the Institution Development Division (IDD) of PCAARRD, which serves as the association’s secretariat.
Under the leadership of Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Acting Executive Director of DOST-PCAARRD, capacity building of the National Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Network (NAARRDN), including the Secretariat, is a vital key to ensuring that the organization can continuously develop relevant and innovative research and development activities for the country’s agriculture, aquatic and natural resources sector. In doing so, Dr. Batalon added that the scholars are being considered a staunch partner of the organization. “The PCAARRD scholars association is no longer just a beneficiary of the institution’s programs and activities, but are active partners in achieving DOST-PCAARRD’s goals and interests,” he concluded.
