The DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), led by DA-BAR director Dr. Vivencio Mamaril, conducted its 2nd Executive Committee meeting for 2021 on 9 February 2021 via video conferencing. The meeting aimed to discuss salient updates of the bureau and fast-track plans for the strengthening of the agriculture and fisheries Research for Development (R4D).

The regular monthly activity served as an avenue to thoroughly discuss agreements and strategies for a smooth implementation of DA-BAR projects and activities. ###

To ensure timely delivery of project objectives amid restrictions brought by the global pandemic, the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) spearheaded the conduct of the completion and progress review of DA-BAR -funded projects under the DA-High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) on 23-24 February 2021, respectively, via video conferencing.

With five ongoing and five completed projects slated, the activity served as an avenue for proponents to present the status of their respective projects— with evaluators giving their comments and recommendations for the purpose of further refining and honing these projects, especially in the development and packaging of information, education and communication materials.

Being one of the institutionalized banner programs of the Department, the HVCDP aims to attain food security and ensure self-sufficiency through promotion and consumption of high-value crops and commodity. ###

To ensure timely delivery of project objectives amid restrictions brought by the global pandemic, the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) spearheaded the conduct of the completion and progress review of DA-BAR -funded projects under the DA-High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) on 23-24 February 2021, respectively, via video conferencing.

With five ongoing and five completed projects slated, the activity served as an avenue for proponents to present the status of their respective projects— with evaluators giving their comments and recommendations for the purpose of further refining and honing these projects, especially in the development and packaging of information, education and communication materials.

Being one of the institutionalized banner programs of the Department, the HVCDP aims to attain food security and ensure self-sufficiency through promotion and consumption of high-value crops and commodity. ###

Narito ang mga karagdagang impormasyon mula sa “Management of Mango Cecid Fly” seminar na inyong dinaluhan.

Maraming salamat!

With the objective of fostering partnership and link in the implementation of the Mentoring and Attracting Youth in Agribusiness (MAYA) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and DA-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 3 March 2021 in Quezon City.

Serving as one of the program’s Handling Offices, the DA-NFRDI will also guide and mentor the accepted youth interns— through which their administrative and technical skills will be honed.

The MAYA Program aims to entice the country’s youth to venture into agriculture and fisheries and train them to be an innovative agribusiness entrepreneurs.  ###

Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) director Dr. Vivencio Mamaril led the ceremonial turn-over of the “notice of award” to some of the qualified interns of the department’s Mentoring and Attracting Youth in Agribusiness (MAYA) Program.

The 12 interns who attended the event last 10 March 2021 at DA Central Office will then be trained or mentored by the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) starting next week.

Other DA-Regional Field Offices (DA-RFOs) also conducted simultaneous ceremonial awarding for accepted interns. A total of 808 MAYA interns will undergo the said internship program. ###

To review and assess the overall performance of the bureau for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 and the 1st quarter of FY 2021, specifically from January to March, the DA-Bureau of Agricultural conducted its 1st Quarter Assessment Workshop on 27-28 April 2021 via video conferencing.

Specifically, the activity focused on the review of the following: (1) performance commitment and targets met of every division and unit; (2) physical and financial accomplishments of the office; and (3) timeline of activities for management review vis-à-vis Quality Management Systems.

Corrective measures and ways forward to further improve the bureau’s program operationalization, project implementation, and activity plans, as well as alignment of every project’s targets and deliverables, which are slated for this year and the coming years, were also discussed and ensured during the said assessment workshop. ### 

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) virtually turned over the technology demonstration learning farm to Mindoro State University (MinSU, formerly Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology) for calamansi research on 21 June 2021 via Zoom. Following the ceremonial turnover, a webinar on good agricultural practices (GAP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP) on calamansi production was held.

This served as an offshoot of the project titled, “Upgrading the Calamansi Value Chain towards Improving the Calamansi Industry of Oriental Mindoro,” which was funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR). The two-year project aimed to address the technical and market constraints of the calamansi industry in Oriental Mindoro. The municipality of Victoria in Oriental Mindoro has the widest production area. Buyers prefer the calamansi from this region owing to its thicker rind, stronger taste, and longer shelf life.

The turnover ceremony and webinar were attended by representatives from SEARCA, MinSU, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), DA-BAR, Provincial Agriculture Office of Oriental Mindoro, as well as calamansi growers and other key stakeholders. ###

With five minutes each, the top 20 Mentoring and Attracting the Youth in Agribusiness (MAYA) intern finalists virtually pitched their agribusiness plans– with highlights on business sustainability, products or services, operations and production plans, marketing, and financial plans –to a panel of judges on 22 June 2021 via video conferencing.

Spearheaded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), through director Vivencio Mamaril, PhD— the “Success Begins at 40k: Best MAYA Micro-Agribusiness Plan – Panel Presentation and Evaluation” event featured agribusinesses revolving around lettuce, banana chips, mushrooms, vermicompost, hydroponics, peppers, adlai, virgin coconut oil, textile, tablea, sugarcane, squid, cashew, and milkfish, among others. The finalists were evaluated based on innovativeness, entrepreneurial attributes, revenue stream, value addition, and presentation and delivery.

Ten finalists who garnered the highest scores will be announced as winners on 23 June 2021, and each will receive a cash prize of PhP 40,000 to support their agribusiness plans. ###

As part of the bureau’s Quality Management System (QMS), the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) conducted a “Continuing Education for Internal QMS Auditors” training course on 23-24 June 2021 via Zoom.

Led by Synergized Macro Solutions, Inc. (SMS) lead consultant and president Susan Soliven— the SMS, as the bureau’s consultant, spearheaded the two-day activity aimed at strengthening the auditing skills of the bureau’s internal QMS auditors on the following: (1) audit trailing, (2) classifying and documenting audit findings accurately, and (3) conducting follow-up audits based on the ISO 19011:2018 and ISO 9001:2015 Standards.

The 15 internal QMS auditors had a refresher course and were further equipped with knowledge on the basics of internal auditing, audit trailing, documenting audit findings, and analysis and verification of audit results.

DA-BAR maintained its ISO 9001:2015 QMS certification, as recommended by TÜV Rheinland, after successfully passing the second stage of the surveillance audit on 30 October 2020. The bureau’s certification is valid until 12 August 2022. ###

With the goal of informing the stakeholders on the role of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in developing technologies and innovations for a sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems— the Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Agriculture Dialogue and Information Network Groups Program Office and the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), spearheaded an online symposium on 6 July 2021 at 2:00PM via video conferencing.

Titled as “Advancing Innovations and Science-based Farm Production Systems: The Role of State Universities and Colleges in Modernizing, Industrializing, and Professionalizing Philippine Agriculture Food Systems,” the webinar provided an avenue for possible collaborations between SUCs, DA, and private sector for the betterment of the agriculture and fisheries sector.

As one of the major partners of DA in its pursuit through its strategies under the Food Security Framework, Dr. Tirso Ronquillo of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) and Dr. Edgardo Tulin of the SUC-Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines (ACAP) were tasked to present a list of salient contributions that were aligned to the agri-fishery sector’s modernization, industrialization, and professionalization. ###

The DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), through its Research Coordination Division (RCD), conducted a virtual progress review of nine ongoing BAR-funded projects under the Expanded Production Support Strategies of the Resiliency Response Research for Development (R4D) program on 28-29 July 2021 via Google Meet.

The focus of these projects was the utilization of micro- and/or macro-propagation techniques and protocols for the mass production of quality planting materials of various high-value crops such as upland vegetables, legumes, ginger, banana, yam, garlic, and ubi. ###

In celebration of the second year anniversary of Agriculture Secretary William Dar, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) pledged it’s commitment of support during the ceremonial signing of the Commitment to the Mission and Vision of the DA for the Filipino People on 4 August 2021. 

This was to reaffirm its commitment towards DA’s vision of a food-secure and resilient Philippines with empowered and prosperous farmers and fisherfolk. 

Joining the rest of the OneDA family, DA-BAR director Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril and the key officials of the bureau virtually attended the DA Management Committee Meeting wherein the Pledge of Commitment was recited as led by Secretary Dar. ###

The DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) maintained its ISO 9001:2015 certification after successfully passing the Second Surveillance Audit (remote) on 5 August 2021. The bureau received its certification on August 2019.

TÜV Rheinland, the certification body, presented three positive findings with no non-conformity raised. The audit focused on the compliance and implementation of the bureau’s quality management system, processes, and documented information.

Auditors Lynn Gerzon and John Francis Faustorilla from TÜV Rheinland also presented opportunities for improvement for effective implementation of the QMS. ###

A few minutes after the virtual flag ceremony, three newly-promoted staff of the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) took their oaths on 9 August 2021 at the Office of the Director in Diliman, Quezon City. 

Officiating the oath-taking ceremony was DA-BAR director Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril. Witnessing virtually were DA-BAR key officials and staff led by assistant director Joell H. Lales.and Human Resource Management Unit head Ludivina M. Pelayo. 

The newly-promoted staff were Raymond Patrick L. Cabrera, supervising agriculturist; Melissa A. Resma, information systems analyst III; and Jay Invinsor L. Bermas, senior agriculturist. ###

Aimed at strengthening partnerships and ensuring the efficient management and implementation of projects, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Researched (DA-BAR) inked a Memorandum of Agreement with various research for development (R4D) partner institutions for the implementation of R4D partnership projects on 15-16 November 2021 at 4/F Conference Hall, RDMIC Building, Quezon City.

Dr. Junel B. Soriano, DA-BAR director; Dr. Mary Jocelyn V. Battung, J.H. Cerilles State College university president; Engr. Pablo M. Montalla, DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management director; Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, Visayas State University president; Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, Mariano Marcos State University president; and Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino, Isabela State University president led the ceremonial MOA signing. Other key officials, researchers and staff from the said institutions and from DA-BAR also witnessed the event. 

The R4D partnership projects include development of decision support tools for crop and fisheries technologies, and technology business incubation for agriculture and fisheries ventures. ###

With the theme, “Kapit-Bisig na Pagtutulungan, Bioteknolohiya ating Paghusayan,” the Department of Agriculture (DA) officially opened the 17th National Biotechnology Week on 22 November 2021 at the DA Main Building Lobby in Diliman, Quezon City.

Spearheaded by the DA-Biotechnology Program Office (BPO), this year’s celebration is in recognition of the contribution of biotechnology to food security, equitable access to health services, and a sustainable and safe environment.

DA-BAR assistant director Joell H. Lales joined DA and DA-BPO officials and staff during the Launching of the Exhibit. DA-BAR and DA-BPO have been supporting agriculture and fisheries biotechnology R4D projects and activities of the different agencies within the DA and private organizations. ###

Five completed projects funded by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) were reviewed by a panel of external and internal evaluators on 25-26 November 2021 via Google Meet.

The panel was composed of experts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Dr. Rodel G. Maghirang and Dr. Edralina P. Serrano; as well as from DA-BAR, Research Coordination Division (RCD) assistant head Julia A. Lapitan, and other HVCDP focals from RCD and Research Program Development Division

The first two projects implemented by the DA-Bicol Region and Aklan State University were funded in response to the directives of former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol to explore the possibility of utilizing Red Spanish pineapple as a food source. 

The third project implemented by the Visayas State University looked into the effects of micronutrient biofortification on the growth, yield, tuber quality, and anthocyanin content of purple sweetpotato.

The fourth project implemented by the University of the Philippines Los Baños aimed to develop innovative techniques in the preparation, pre-treatment procedures, and packaging for extending shelf life of fresh-cut vegetables.

Lastly, the project implemented by the DA-Northern Mindanao aimed to adopt and optimize the protocol for somatic embryogenesis of the Coffea canephora and Coffea arabica varieties using leaf explants to multiply and supply large numbers of high-quality coffee seedlings to farmers engaged in coffee production. ###

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Research for Development and Extension (R4D&E) Cluster of the Department of Agriculture (DA) presented the Integrated R4D&E Work Plans for FY 2022 during the third day of the DA Management Committee Meeting on 25 November 2021 at DA-Crop Biotechnology Center, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) director Dr. Junel B. Soriano, R4D&E Cluster chairperson, led the presentation and discussion to Agriculture Secretary William Dar and to the members of the DA ManCom.

In line with the DA’s current directions to implement its interventions attuned with the OneDA Reform Agenda towards the transformation of the agriculture and fisheries sector, members of the DA Mancom participated in cluster workshops to discuss and integrate the respective work plans and recommendations to address the 10 key issues identified in the sector as aligned with the OneDA Strategies, the different industry roadmaps, context of DA’s medium and long term objectives (NAFMIP), and DA’s twin goal of “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita.”

The R4D&E Cluster members, composed of DA key officials from the office of the Undersecretary for DA Attached Agencies, DA-BAR, Agricultural Training Institute, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Bureau of Plant Industry, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Carabao Center, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Special Area for Agricultural Development Program, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, and Biotechnology Program Office, conducted a workshop during the second day of the DA ManCom Meeting. ###

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted the Eighth Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of the project, “Dynamic Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agro-biodiversity (ABD) in Traditional Agro-ecosystems of the Philippines” on 29 November 2021 via Zoom.

Funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) through FAO, the project aims to enhance, expand, and sustain the dynamic conservation practices that sustain globally significant agro-biodiversity in traditional agroecosystems of the Philippines. 

DA Undersecretary for Operations and Agri-Fisheries Mechanization Engr. Ariel T. Cayanan and DA-BAR Director Junel B Soriano, PSC chairperson and co-chairperson, respectively, led the members of the PSC. FAO Assistant Representative for Programme Tamara Jean Palis-Duran, representing new FAO Representative in the Philippines Kati Tanninen, led the FAO delegation during the meeting. ###

Agriculture Secretary William Dar led the ceremonial launching of the “YAMANG LUPA: Sustainable Community-based Action R4DE for Livelihood Uplifting and Prosperity (YL: SCALE-UP) Program” held at Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City on 03 December 2021. 

Bureau of Agricultural Research director Junel B. Soriano, together with assistant director Joell Lales and concerned officials and staff of the bureau, spearheaded the activity that was highlighted by the signing of a memorandum of understanding where DA-Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Field Office and four state universities and colleges signified their commitment to the collaborate with DA and DA-BAR in implementing the program.

An upscaling of the 2013-BAR supported program of the same name that was piloted in selected regions in the Philippines, the “YL: SCALE-UP Program” is expected to cover a total of at least 5000 hectares of rainfed and upland in targeted regions. It will implement and further harness the adapted science-led soil revival strategies and management practices toward boosting the productivity of farmers and strengthening their coping mechanisms amidst climate anomalies. 

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) launched eight automated systems developed by in-house programmers to streamline and improve the bureau’s internal operations and delivery of information to clients on 16 December 2021.

Other activities for the culmination day included the launching of the edible landscaping garden, tribute to the retiring staff, oath taking of Association of Bureau of Agricultural Research Employees 2022 elected officers, and recognition of best employees as well as its drivers. ###

Agriculture Secretary William Dar and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) professor and former chancellor Dr. Fernando Sanchez, Jr. led the turnover ceremony of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Edible Landscape (EL) Garden on 20 December 2021 at the DA Central Office grounds, Diliman, Quezon City.

Dubbed as “Hardin ng Kalusugan at Pagkain,” the garden is established to promote EL in urban communities as additional source of available, fresh, and nutritious food for every Filipino family. 

The said initiative is part of a project titled, “Magtanim ng Gulay Para sa Isang Masagana, Malusog, at Makulay na Buhay” funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research. This is also in line with the department’s Plant, Plant, Plant program and its efforts towards food-resilient communities amidst the pandemic.

Joining the ceremony were DA key officials led by Undersecretary for Regulations Engr. Zamzamin Ampatuan and Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit Evelyn Laviña. ###