| ALAMINOS,
Pangasinan – The country’s leading science and technology
(S&T) advocates in the media sector convened recently to map
out key issues concerning the commercialization of regional products
and services.
The
event was conducted last 2 August 2007 under the theme “S&T
Products to the Market” in line with PCARRD’s “Technology
to the People (T2P)” program. It was also part of PCARRD’s
conference series that serves as a venue for R&D partners, the
media, and PCARRD to jointly identify milestones and other information
worthy of documentation.
In
his welcome remarks, Mayor Hernani Braganza of Alaminos said that
the agriculture, forestry and natural resources (AFNR) sectors in
Region I (Ilocos) are vibrant because of the Farmers’ Information
and Technology Services (FITS), another PCARRD initiative.
He
also promoted Alaminos’ “pinakbet farm” program,
which seeks to provide local farmers with additional income.
Dr.
Miriam Pascua, Ilocos Agriculture and Resources Research and Development
(ILARRDEC) Regional R&D Coordinating Council Chair and Mariano
Marcos State University (MMSU) President talked on the region’s
unusual dry spell, which puts La Union and Ilocos Norte in a state
of calamity.
Pascua
encouraged the local government units (LGUs) to use part of their
internal revenue allotment for mitigation purposes and said that
farmers can use appropriate technologies as alternative measures.
Dr.
Patricio S. Faylon, PCARRD Executive Director, on the other hand,
said that PCARRD has pushed through with its goat program in Region
I, which is considered the home of small ruminants in the country
to help the local farmers.
Faylon
also mentioned other opportunities such as ube farming, and planting
of sweet sorghum and Jatropha expressing hopes for Region l to come
up with livelihood projects on producing world-class agricultural
products.
The
media conference was attended by representatives from ILARRDEC,
Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Region I, and the Department
of Agriculture (DA)-Region I, among others.
Dr.
Stanley Malab of ILARRDEC provided information on bamboo; Dr. Jovita
Datuin of DA-Ilocos Integrated Agricultural Research Center (ILIARC)
on goat; Dr. Gliceria Pascua of MMSU on mango; Dr. Evangeline Pera
of DMMMSU on ube; and Dr. Adriano Esguerra of the National Apiculture
Research, Training and Development Institute (NARTDI) on beekeeping.
(Liza R. Gutierrez, S&T Media Service)
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