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Archives
March 16-31, 2001
Roles and functions of RIARCS
strengthened
by Mary Charlotte O. Fresco
 The
Regional R&D institutions are now facing a bigger
challenge of improving the quality of governance in
the whole regional R&D system.
This has been the point of convergence
between the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research
Center (RIARC) managers, assistant managers and regional
technical directors as they convened for the First Quarterly
Meeting on 15-18 March 2001 at the Legenda Hotel, Puerto
Princesa, Palawan.
Culminating the three-day affair were
plenary sessions and interactive workshops designed
to reorient and prepare the participants in the drafting
of new course of actions and set of strategies that
will help them streamline their roles and responsibilities
in the regional R&D community. The major concerns
covered by activities included: strategies for improving
the quality of R&D governance; new partnership arrangements
with the civil societies for increased efficiency, improving
accountability; defining the outputs and general scheduling
of the regional R&D function; improving research
focus and budget allocation; and improving quality of
science, M&E, and Research-Extension Interface.
BAR Director Eliseo Ponce reiterated the
importance of improving the quality of governance within
the DA subsystem to achieve efficiency. The DA subsystem
is composed primarily of the RIARCs, DA attached agencies,
regional State Colleges and Universities, and private
and civil societies, which are governed by a common
agenda and programs for research and development. He
pointed out that members members of the subsystem must
have a clear understanding of the roles and functions
they should perform. Likewise, Ponce tackled the issue
on new partnership arrangements that should be established
with both the public and private sectors to strengthen
research-extension linkage.
The participants from 15 regions were
grouped into four to develop a framework and strategies
in meeting the desired output for each workshop. Among
the important points generated from the workshop on
improving the quality of R&D governance include
the prioritization of projects with great impact; establishing
functional/organizational structure uniform to all regions;
adoption of bottom-up participatory approach in program
planning; defining the powers and functions of the regional
institutions with reference to Executive Order 338;
adoption of RDE pyramid when it comes to budget allocation;
establishment of an integrated R&D database/system
for the region; and realignment of personnel on need
basis following the new organizational structure.
On the other hand, significant results
from the workshop on new partnership arrangements showed
that the role of provincial and municipal offices as
research partners should be strengthened and reactivated.
As for the strategic output of the workshop
on improving the research focus and budget allocation,
each region was directed to identify its banner commodities
that are both highly productive and most profitable
to the local farmers.
An open forum was held to integrate all
the issues and concerns and to device appropriate ways
to effect research-extension interface. Suggestions
and recommendations from the regions were found crucial
to ensure that that research output at the midstream
level is relevant to the farmer's needs and shall reach
the farming and fishing communities.
Other workshop participants were BAR Assistant
Director Jovita Corpuz, staff of BAR Regional Programs
Division, who served as over-all coordinator, and Mr.
Jesus Fernandez who served as facilitator/moderator.
March 16-31 2001 Articles: ::
COGENT visits BAR
::
Understanding genes, their effects & behavior thru molecular bio
::
17 NaRDSAF members receive scholarship grants
::
A need for an institution -- SSAC
::
Philippine Mariculture Industry Regulation Criteria proposed
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BAR launches Plant Genetic Resources Network
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Roles and functions of RIARCS strengthened
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BAR prepares for 22nd SOM-AMAF meeting
::
New DOST head speaks in women's seminar
::: More March 2001 articles :::
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