LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here has adopted “Excellence in Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Innovations, ” as its new tagline in a bid to achieve its goal for excellence in science and technology (S&T) innovations.
Addressing fellow S&T experts, scientists and journalists on Monday’s forum here, Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, acting executive director of the DOST-PCAARRD, said this new tagline carries with it the S&T challenges and innovations that redound to the people and thus the need for “promoting innovations for agri-aqua productivity through the media.”
He said the agency is looking into new areas of collaboration such as the granting of graduate studies scholarship program to improve and make better technological innovations being conducted especially on the new projects.
The new areas for collaboration include the innovative computer-assisted info system and national database for rubber and cacao plantation by Dr. Nathaniel C. Bantayan of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); mussel production using the innovative Filipino long-line by Dr. Carlos C. Baylon of University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV); and Dr. Mary Beth B. Maningas of University of Santo Tomas (UST) on the development of testing kit for cultured shrimp diseases, among others.
Ebora said that PCAARRD is serious in bringing down innovations to the ground and called on the media to help the agency popularized the technologies they have developed.
“You will be able to help us educate the decision makers so that they will be more familiar with the technologies and the efforts we are doing in R&D (Research and Development),” Ebora said.
Meanwhile, Director Marita A. Carlos of the Applied Communication Division of PCAARRD noted the great contribution of journalists in creating media value worth more than PHP21 million as she clarified this huge amount should have been spent in disseminating media releases of the agency for the past two years in print and radio.
“In Social Media, our Facebook page has generated 17,700 likes in 2017, a sizeable increase from the 4,000 likes in 2016,” she took pride adding that as of the 1st quarter in 2018, the number of likes has already soared to more than 19,000.
She thanked the media practitioners for their continuing support in spreading science and technology to the people. (PNA)
