BAR TODAY || Official Quarterly Publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

RIARC management structure revamped
Thea Kristina Pabuayon

October 1999
Special Issue

The so-called "revamped" of the RIARC Management Structure was one of the major highlights during the BAR-initiated, "Second Regional RDE Network Leaders Conference Workshop" held last September 2-4 at the Maharajah Hotel in Clark Field, Pampanga. The "revamp" or restructuring was part of BAR's pro-active move to improve the agricultural regional program implementation in the country; The conference was participated in by the 15 RIARC Managers and Research Directors of SUCs which included Mariano Marcos State University, Central Luzon State University, West Visayas State University, Visayas State College for Agriculture, University of Southern Mndanao, Benguet State University and Camarines Sur State Agricultural College. Three experts from UP Los Banos, Drs. Samuel Mancebo, Emesto Lozada and Rey Velasco acted as resource persons.

As a tangible output of the conference, the participants were able to develop a Regional Integrated RDE Agenda format. The RIARC institutional strengthening programs, responsibilities and agreements for the Farmer/ Fisherfolk Advisory Conunittee (FlAC) were also tackled during the conference. The participants also further discussed the policies on regional and national program implementation for a more efficient monitoring of its activities. The "revamp" hopes to ensure a more efficient and effective implementation of regional programs.

The conference paved the way for the refinement of the RDE Agenda/Programs, which included the finalization of the Regional Integrated RDE Agenda (RIRDEA). Further, the conference delineated the roles and responsibilities of member-institutions in its formulation and program implementation. According to BAR Executive Director, Dr. Eliseo Ponce, the RIRDEA will serve as BAR's "programming tool" for the next five years. Ponce added that an annual review of the RIRDEA will be conducted to serve as an effective guide in agricultural development planning for farming and fishing communities.

Responsibilities and agreements for the Farmer/Fisherfolk Advisory Committee (FIAC) were also formulated during the conference. The participants agreed that FIAC members should represent the industry sectors -producers, traders and processors. As a policy, nominations of FIAC members to the Office of the Secretary by the Regional Field Unit will be processed at BAR after the members submit their curriculum vitae. The FIAC members will be given support in terms of traveling and incidental expenses.

The conference also discussed and eventually, set-up a policy on interfacing the regional with the national programs such that the roles of national networks in the regional program implementation will be included.

It was agreed that the national networks will review the RIRDEA of the regions. This is to address coherence with national concerns. The interfacing policy will lessen the possibility of duplicatory program implementation in regions and such interfacing mechanism will enhance the provision of data for monitoring of program investments in each region. Another highlight of the conference is the creation of support teams. The support teams shall provide technical assistance to regional researchers. The support teams are: agroecological zone, commodity and interdisciplinary.

Also discussed was the RIARC Institutional Development Plan (IDP). In the conference, it was emphasized that RIARCs will perform three main functions. These involve 1) technology generation - conduct of mid-stream research, 2) centralized laboratory services for R & D, regulatory and services to clients etc., and 3) technology demonstration/dissemination in the form of Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs). All of these functions will have a human resource development component.

Ponce further stressed that each RIARC Manager has to initiate the formulation of a strategic plan. This plan will ensure that agenda and programs will be implemented in the best interest of all concerned. Finally, the participants affixed their signatures in a document containing all agreements/assignments to express their full commitment to the RIARC re-structuring.

BAR envisions that, with these improvements and enhancements in the management structure, the RIARCs and all regional RDE network members will implement their programs and activities in the spirit of the provisions of AFMA.