Pili (Canarium ovatum, Engl.) is an evergreen tree growing to a peak height of around 20 meters with remarkable resistance to strong winds. It bears nuts containing nutritious, unique-tasting kernels and oil can be extracted from its wood, kernel and fruit pulp. A promising tree regarded as “Bicol’s Tree of Hope”.

Varieties: Orolfo, Magnaye, Laysa, Lanuza, Magayon, Mayon1, and Orbase.

Scallops are commercially important marine bivalves found in tropical and temperate marine environment. Taxonomically, it belong to the Family Pectinidae and highly prized for its adductor muscle as food source and its symmetrical fan shaped colored shell for shellcrafts and ornamentation. Asid gulf in Masbate and the adjoining  Visayan Sea are the primary fishing grounds where they are commercially harvested for local consumption and for  export. Yield of scallops from the gulf is the largest from any single area in the Philippines.  BU researchers identified five major scallops species  and have been studying the bioecology of the bivalves for nearly two decades now. Scallops sanctuary  and the experimental culture technique were now established as part of the resource management and sustainability assurance mechanisms of scallops.

Given its geographical location, the Bicol Region is highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as tropical storms and typhoons which bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall, floods, storm surges along the coast line and lahar flow in the farming communities around the foot of the volcano. Such natural occurrences happen several times in a year affecting food security and livelihood. In response, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) initiatives are put in place to enhance adaptive capacity and build resilient communities.