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Vol. 1 No. 8
April 16-30, 2000
R&D agencies reorient to increase effectiveness
by Junelyn dela Rosa

Twelve R&D institutions participated in a three-day reorientation seminar with the aim of increasing effectiveness in providing technology and information needs of the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The Reorientation Seminar, facilitated by the Bureau of Agriculture Research (BAR), was held on 5-7 April 2000 at the Rembrandt Hotel, Quezon City.

The participants in the seminar were representatives from: the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), Cotton Development Authority (CODA), Giber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), National Tobacco Administration (NTA), National Dairy Authority (NDA), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

An expert panel, composed of internationally and nationally known research scientists, was formed to review the organizational set up, vision, mission and function of the individual agencies. The members were: Dr. Fernando Bernardo, former Deputy Director General of IRRI; Dr. Tito Contado, former Service Chief, Extension and Research Division, FAO-Rome; Dr. Cecilio Arboleda, former Dean, College of Agriculture, UPLB; and PhilRice Executive Director Dr. Santiago Obien.

After consultations were made, major revisions were propsed for each agency. For BSWM, it was renamed Bureau of Soils and Water Management Institute. It will be headed by an Executive Director assisted by a Deputy Executive Director and three Service Directors for R&D, technology utilization and administrative, and finance.

In contrast, PhilRice will expand its area of responsibility beyond rice. It will include other cereals, except corn. The creation of a new research institute for corn was proposed. It will be known as PhilCorn, with its base located in USM.

As for CODA, it will be renamed Institute for Dryland Agriculture. Dynamic interfacing shall be done with other institutions to make it the equivalent of ICRISAT. Research will also focus on cotton and other crops with minimal requirements for water supply. Furthermore, FIDA was renamed Philippine Fiber Institute. Its R&D shall focus on three major fibers - abaca, silk, piña - and nontraditional fibers, fiber utilization and product development. It should also incorporate SUCs' R&D units programmatically and financially. But it will leave direct management to SUCs.

As for NTA, proposed revisions included:

• An increase in investment in R&D
  
• Focus on native tobacco; and
  
• Prepare farmers to shift to other crops

On the other hand, BPRE was renamed Postharvest and Food Technology Research Institute. It will focus on R&D including postharvest and food technology and promote commercialization. It will also coordinate with SUCs and other R&D units of BPI, BAI and BFAR.

Proposed revisions in PCA called for the creation of an autonomous institute for coconut research that will be attached to PCA. The PCA board shall include representative from R&D organizations.

In the livestock sector, NDA will shift its resources to increase support for research. It will review dairy research agenda and the relative cost of alternative technologies. As for PCC, major revision involved the inclusion of dairy in its research coverage.

The following are the proposed revisions for BAI:

• Regulatory functions will be transferred to the Bureau of Quarantine and Inspection service once it is created;
  
• R&D shall focus on beef and cattle, small ruminants, swine and poultry; it shall have an advisory board composed of representatives from all sectors of animal industry; and it shall have a coordinative function with LDC, NDA, PCC, NMIC (National Meat and Inspection Council), and NSF (National Stud Farm); and,
  
• BAI shall coordinate the animal protection and early warning system.

In the same manner, BPI has the following proposed revisions:

• Quarantine functions shall be transferred to the Bureau of Quarantine and Inspection service once it is created;
  
• R&D focus on legumes and fruit crops;
  
• Coordinate germplasm and seed system of the country; integrate NPGR (National Plant Genetic Resources) of UPLB functionally and programmatically;
  
• Coordinate plant protection and early warning system; programmatically and functionally integrate NCPC (National Crop Protection Centers) of UPLB and RCPC (Regional Crop Protection Centers) under BPI; and,
  
• BPI shall have an advisory board composed of representatives from all sectors of the plant industry.

In the fisheries sector, NFRDI shall:

• Focus its research activities on ecological zones;
  
• Show strong linkages with SCUs particularly UPV and UP MSI; and,
  
• Study the possibility of integration of SEAFDEC (Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center) to NFRDI.

Ms. Baquireza said similar training on soil acidity management should conducted, with the participation of DA-RIARC researchers from the Mindanao regions. This planned regional training, to be conducted on a rotational basis among SEARCA consortium countries, would be managed and sponsored by SEARCA.

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