Formerly known as the ‘Sunken Garden’, the landscape located at the atrium of A.R. Tanco Hall of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) was transformed into a Tropical Asian-inspired garden called the “PCAARRD Zen Garden”.
Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, DOST-PCAARRD’s Acting Executive Director, led the inauguration of the PCAARRD Zen Garden as part of the Council’s 6th Anniversary Celebration. In his message, he recognized the personnel behind its successful implementation and requested the team to label all the plants in the compound to transform the landscape into a botanical garden.
The team was headed by Dr. Marcelino U. Siladan of the Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD), supported by Dr. Edna A. Anit, Assistant Director of the Crops Research Division (CRD), along with the newly hired staff Mr. Joel Norman R. Panganiban who conceptualized and implemented the design; and Ms. Glenda P. Lantacon and staff of the Finance Administration Division-General Services Section (FAD-GSS) who provided the plants and helped in the implementation of the landscape design.
In line with Dr. Ebora’s request, the plants in the PCAARRD Zen Garden and the different landscapes in the DOST-PCAARRD compound are now labelled according to their corresponding family, scientific, and common names. It is hoped that the activity will have long reaching impact in educating the Council’s clients and visitors on the names of the various plant species.