The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) conducted a field monitoring visit for the Phase 2 of the project, “Inter-consortia Convergence in Socio-Economics R&D: Institutionalization of the Socio-Economics Research and Data Analytics Centers (SERDAC).”
This activity aimed to assess the condition and ongoing operations of the Luzon SERDAC in Central Luzon State University (CLSU).
The monitoring team was led by DOST-PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management and Support Services Melvin B. Carlos along with the Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD) team composed of Senior Science Research Specialist Mia Barbara DV. Aranas, Project Technical Specialist I Mark Christopher L. Bautista, and Project Technical Assistant IV Malen Maree A. Horigue.
The CLSU delegation composed of President Edgardo A. Orden, Vice President for Research and Extension Armando N. Espino Jr., and Research Center Director and Project Leader Maria Excelsis M. Orden welcomed the monitoring team and expressed their appreciation to the Council for recognizing the pivotal role of socio-economics in formulating more effective strategies for S&T development. During the presentation of accomplishments, the Luzon team had reportedly conducted a total of 46 training activities, 6 webinars, and 3 seminars, which, in turn, capacitated over 2300 participants.
The group also also discussed areas that the center can look into, such as: (1) development of a learning management system; (2) further enhancement of the center’s human resources; (3) possibility of incorporating Continuing Professional Development accreditation in the training services provided; (4) improvement of mechanisms to support remote sharing of licenses and journal materials to a wider audience; and (5) the center’s role in pushing for the transformation of research results into policy outputs.
Held on the same day, the monitoring team also took part in the unveiling ceremony of markers to commemorate the 5th year since the establishment of SERDAC Luzon.
In 2017, DOST-PCAARRD funded and supported the establishment of SERDACs in three major universities of the country—CLSU, Visayas State University, and the University of Southeastern Philippines. The centers aim to enhance socio-economics research in the regions and provide technical assistance to non-socio-economics researchers involved in R&D for the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sectors.
Services provided by each center include data analytics, technical assistance, research implementation, access to research materials, and training and consultancy services.