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Archives
June 1-15, 2001
NTLs hold 2nd quarter meeting
by Thea Kristina M. Pabuayon
National team leaders (NTLs) of various
commodity and discipline-based networks convened for
their second quarter meeting on 4-5 June 2001 in Iloilo
City.
To date, there are 22 existing networks
made up of national research institutions, state colleges
and universities (SCUs) and, DA staff bureaus and attached
agencies that provide leadership in the planning, orchestration,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of identified
program areas.
The meeting focused on the presentation
of recommendations and policy guidelines on the following
concerns:
- Fostering public and private sector partnership
Program review as an interfacing mechanism
Interfacing activities between commodity and discipline-based
networks
- Human resource development
- Web page development and management
- Printed information materials
- Funding support for participation in local and international
scientific meetings
- R & D grants for the national team leaders
According to the network leaders, there
is a need to harmonize the review and evaluation process
of the proposals of the Bureau of Agricultural Research,
SCUs, and research agencies. SCUs should focus on the
technical evaluation of proposals since they have the
capability and expertise, while prioritization should
be the responsibility of the Senior Scientists Advisory
Committee, Farmers/Fisherfolk Industry Advisory Committee,
networks, and researchers.
The NTLs observed that there is low private
sector participation in agricultural R&D due to
lack of incentives/investments, guidelines on licensing
and Intellectual Property Rights, and other strategies
that may benefit the private sector. A committee that
will carefully look into these issues and make useful
strategies for public-private sector participation was
created. This is composed of Drs. Rene Espino, Victor
Ella, Enrico Supangco, Arlene Inocencio, and Atty. Carmen
Reyes.
To ensure system linkages, interfacing
and collaboration mechanisms for commodity and discipline-based
networks were recommended by the members. These are:
- program review of discipline-based projects
regardless of commodity
- bi-annual discipline-based cross consultations to look
at systems integration, knowledge management and identification
of network needs
- inter-network projects
- participation of discipline-based network leaders to
commodity conferences, seminars etc.
- participation of discipline-based networks Core Technical
Team during interfacing discussions/consultations on
quarterly meetings
It was proposed that BAR should provide funding for
these interfacing activities. To sustain the human resource
development program of the DA and continuously encourage
research and development participation, network leaders
also discussed the need to draft specific strategies,
policies and guidelines for scholarship grants and other
incentives that can be availed of by DA agencies and
staff bureau members. These include provisions for promotions,
retirement package, and grants to students interested
in pursuing network-related activities.
In relation to this, participants also agreed to the
need of providing travel grants to network leaders to
support their participation in local and international
scientific meetings. Applicants will undergo regular
evaluation by the network committee. Lastly, network
leaders agreed to launch a web page in October this
year to highlight partial/full results of research undertaken
by their respective networks since 1999. The web page
will be updated by the networks themselves and will
be made available to stakeholders and other R&D
clientele. 
June 1-15 2001 Articles: ::
BAR programs P29M for NaRDSAF scholars
::
Dr. Ponce represents southern countries in CGIAR meeting
::
Garrity is 4th ICRAF director general
::
Obien is PhilCorn interim exec officer
::
NTLs hold 2nd quarter meeting
::: More June 2001 articles :::
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