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To become a world-class research institution is the Bureau of Agricultural Research's goal. At the heart of this goal is the vision of assuring a brighter future for the Filipino people through research excellence in agriculture and fisheries.

A thousand-mile journey, one might say, but it starts with one step. BAR gingerly took initial steps and now it is ready to take assured strides towards this goal. BAR has crafted its strategic plan for 2002-2005 to serve as a map and an inspiration.

BAR will strengthen the national and regional RDE networks and the linkages with partner agencies from regional, national to international levels. The bureau is set to unify the agricultural R&D in the country. The nine divisions of BAR will work on achieving this.

The establishment of national RDE networks involves the collective efforts of all agriculture and fishery players, including farmers, fisherfolk, the local government units, government institutions, and private and public sectors. These national RDE networks, which are made up of national research institutions, state colleges and universities, DA bureaus and agencies, provide the headship in planning, orchestrating, monitoring and evaluating the identified major program areas of the National Programs Division (NPD) of BAR.

NPD will implement the programs for establishing national laboratories, identifying benchmark information for increased productivity, and conducting collaborative activities to further strengthen network partnerships.

So far, NPD has already established 21 national RDE networks, seven sub-networks, and three special programs under the current RDE networking system. Aside from strengthening the national RDE networking system, it will continue developing, implementing, and monitoring RDE programs and projects.

Likewise, NPD will develop new systems and procedures on RDE planning and implementation to ensure the effective planning and execution of RDE programs.

In the regional level, the Regional Programs Division will provide financial and technical support to the regional networks. Technical advisers who are mainly from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños have been assigned to each region to give assistance to the regional agricultural research centers in managing and coordinating R&D activities.

Zonal Research Centers for Agriculture in Regions 2, 8 and 10 have also been established to promote an integrated research agenda program in the regions and yet decentralize the decision-making process in R&D planning, monitoring & evaluation, and implementation.

To ensure that BAR maintains its good relations and linkages with its partners and clients, both local and international, the bureau created the Public and International Relations Communication Division (PIRCD).

Division head Reynaldo Comia, explains that PIRCD takes the lead in drafting BAR's communication plan within the organization as well as with other agencies and clients. "This is to systematize the bureau's internal communication systems, build a positive image for its different policies, and develop and strengthen its linkages with local and international agricultural agencies," Dr. Comia adds. PIRCD will organize a press conference to disseminate the R&D technologies of BAR.

To make the exchanges of knowledge and information faster and more convenient, the current development in information technology will be utilized. Mr. Winston Tabada, head of the Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD) avers that the Agriculture and Fisheries Research and Development Information System (AFRDIS) is one brilliant showcase of this technology. AFRDIS is a major tool for strengthening knowledge management in agriculture and fisheries R&D. "It is an information network of institutions that are engaged in research and development in agriculture and fisheries. AFRDIS aims to provide a coordinated and proactive environment for cooperation and partnership on information exchange and dissemination on a global basis."

"We also need to insure that our little resources can play a catalytic role in bringing in other resources from other organizations and in strengthening our partnerships with our state colleges and universities, international organizations and non-government organizations." - Ponce

According to Mr. Tabada, the AFRDIS was created as part of "BAR's role in setting up an effective and efficient computerized system of monitoring and evaluation of RDE staff and institutions." As such, the AFRDIS creates an R&D information network among the agriculture and fishery communities, facilitating and promoting the exchange and dissemination of information and data.

The system involves setting up local area networks and a communication backbone, with internet facilities in the member institutions at cost-affordable set-ups," Mr. Tabada explained.

At present, the AFRDIS has 11 member-institutions, namely, Mariano Marcos State University and Ilocos Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Northern Luzon; PhilRice, BPRE, Central Luzon State University and Philippine Carabao Center in Central Luzon; Luzon State University, Central Visayas Research Integrated Agricultural Research Center (RIARC) and Eastern Visayas RIARC in the Visayas; and University of Southern Mindanao and Central Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Mindanao. This number is only a small portion of the 54 institutions that ICTD targets to be members of the AFRDIS by 2004.

Dr. Eliseo R. Ponce, director of BAR, is set on making the bureau play a catalytic role in linking research and extension and making science and technology work for the farmers and fisherfolk. According to him, the challenge is to accelerate the flow of the technologies from the scientists who developed them to the people who need these technologies. This way, the bureau can really help in alleviating poverty, especially in the rural areas.

"We also need to insure that our little resources can play a catalytic role in bringing in other resources from other organizations and in strengthening our partnerships with our state colleges and universities, international organizations and non-government organization," Dr. Ponce added.

Dr. Ponce hopes that BAR can meet its goals for the year and beyond. He also wishes for the continuous development of the bureau's staff, both contractual and permanent. "I wish that we can provide our contractual staff with more permanent positions. As for the permanent employees, I hope they are given more chance to pursue graduate studies," Dr. Ponce says.

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