.::. BAR Chronicle .::. A monthly publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

Vol. 1 No. 10
May 16-31, 2000
Senior scientists advisory committee holds 1st meeting
by Rita T. dela Cruz

Pursuant to the Special Order (SO) No. 151 creating a committee to handle the smooth operationalization of the national R&D system, the Senior Scientist Advisory Committee (SSAC) held its first meeting on 18 May 2000 at the CERDAF Boardroom.

Dr. Eliseo R. Ponce, Director of Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the SSAC Secretary, headed the event. Members of the SSAC present were: Dr. Fernando Bernardo of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Chairman;Dr. Solita Monsod of UP School of Economics, Vice-Chairman; Dr. Florendo Quebral of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD); Dr. William Padolina of IRRI and Dr. Ernesto Rigor of UP Los Baños, members of the Committee. Other members are Dr. Gelia Castillo of IRRI and Dr. Edgardo Gomez of UP Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI).

During the meeting, three important issues were raised. One such issue is the review and definition of the Term of Reference (TOR) of the SSAC and its Technical Committee or TC. Since the members of the TC are yet to be appointed, officials and members of the SSAC agreed that they should have more or less the same functions as that of the TC from the Seed System Project.

According to the SO, the SSAC has five basic functions. One is to monitor changes in the global and national context by acting as a leader in the conduct of studies as well as invite experts to do the presentations. Another is to recommend the medium- and long-term strategies and priorities of the national R&D. The latter entails preparation or commissioning special studies and reports, and monitoring research supported by the Derpartment of Agriculture (DA). SSAC is also responsible for the evaluation of quality and relevant public-funded research and related programs. To do this, SSAC needs to arrange periodic external program management reviews (ERPMRs) with regard to relevance, quality, effectiveness, and impact of each center/institute. In addition, SSAC shall recommend animal system-wide resource allocation to DA-supported centers/institutes and programs. Lastly, they shall address R&D/E issues such as commodity/activity balance, rgional distribution, RD/E network conflicts, and monitoring the development of the National Integrated RD?E Programs (NIRDEAPs).

Likewise, the Technical Committee shall provide technical support to the SSAC. Specifically, the TC shall conduct ex-ante and periodic review of the national and regional integrated research, development and extension programs. In relation to this, they will monitor ongoing RD/E programs and recommend solutions to problems that arise therein. It is also their duty to conduct special studies as commisioned by the DA.

Another issue discussed during the meeting was the briefing of BAR programs and projects. The SSAC addressed some of the probelms and needs that should be implemented with regard to the improvement of the projects. In relation to this, they were able to discuss and clarify concerns involving the approval of AFMA, its achievemtn from the time it was approved, and the untimely release of its allocated funds.

The third issue dealt with the nominees to the TC. The Committee agreed the Seven Committees - each consisting of three members - shall form the TC, namely, Aquatic Sciences, Biotechnology, Agronomic Sciences, Horticulture Sciences, Social and Policy Sciences, Animal Sciences and Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering. The Committee also reviewed the TOR of the TC members as well as the scope of their responsibility.

Several peple were nominated as members o the TC but no final decision has been made. According to the SSAC, they have to look at the CVs of these nominees prior to appointment. It was pointed out that the TC membres muts come from the scinetific community, especially premier state universities and colleges.

The committee suggested that in order to have an up-to-date and objective view of researches, memebrs of the TC could be experts based abroad but who come to the Philippines at least once a year. It was also suggested that in detailing of experts, good administrative and supervisory skills must also be taken into consideration.