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Archives
February 1-15, 2001
DA creates PhilCorn and PhilFruits
by Junelyn dela Rosa
To invigorate and give the local fruit
and corn industry a much-needed boost, the Department
of Agriculture (DA) establishes the Philippine Tropical
Fruits Research Center (PhilFruits) and the Philippine
Corn Research Center (PhilCorn) on 11 January 2001,
through the issuance of Administrative Orders 4 and
5, respectively. Former Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban
instructed the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)
to allocate each center P45M from the DA R&D grants
and High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) Makamasa funds
for their immediate establishment and operationalization.
Similar to other DA-attached agencies,
both research centers shall be managed as semi-autonomous
units with budgetary allocation from the national government.
PhilFruits was established out of the devolved Bureau
of Plant Industry's (BPI) Davao National Crops Research
and Development Center (Davao NCRDC). From being a multi-commodity
center, the former NCRDC will focus on fruits and fruit-based
products. All facilities, experimental areas, and personnel
of the BPI-Davao NCRDC will be transferred to PhilFruits.
On the other hand, the PhilCorn will be
developed on a 60-hectare experimental area within the
University of Southern Mindanao (USM) Campusin Kabacan,
North Cotabato. At least 40 scientists/researchers from
the Cotton Development Authority (CODA) shall act as
the core personnel of PhilCorn while its organizational
structure and staffing pattern has yet to be approved.
Each center shall have an Advisory Committee
that will define and formulate program plans, policies,
and other relevant activities necessary for its timely
and smooth inception. PhilCorn's Advisory Committee
is composed of the BAR Director as Chairman, USM President
as Co-Chairman, UP Mindanao Representative, DA-BAR-ERT
Chairman, DA-Region XII RTD for Research, Farmer organization
representative, Livestock sector representative, and
the National Team Leader of Corn RDE Network as members.PhilFruits'
Advisory Committee is composed of the BAR Director as
Chairman, BPI Director as Co-Chairman; and the following
as members -- Director of PhilFruits, DA-BAR-ERT Chairman,
DA-Region XI RTD for Research, farmer organization representative,
corporate fruits growers representative, fruits processors/exporters
representative, and National Team Leader of the Fruit
RDE Network.
Through the establishment of PhilCorn
and PhilFruits centers, viable and dynamic national
corn and fruits research and development programs will
strengthen and modernize the national corn and fruit
industries into highly productive and profitable businesses.
February 1-15 2001 Articles: ::
DA creates PhilCorn and PhilFruits
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New DA sec identifies 11 priorities for next 100 days
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M.O. no. 1 establishes RDMIC
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How the R&D system responds to GMA's core values
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Chinese scientists visit BAR
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BAR holds first seminar series for 2001
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1st R&D ManCom meeting held
::: More February 2001 articles :::
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