BAR orients LGUs and NGOs on availing research grants

29 May 2008
Ellaine Grace L. Nagpala

With its mandate to coordinate and fund agricultural research and development activities and develop partnerships with local and international research organizations, the Bureau of Agricultural (BAR) conducted an orientation on its Competitive Research Grant Manual (CRGM) on 29 May 2008 at the Palazzo de Laoag Hotel in Laoag City.

The orientation was intended for the Local Government Unit (LGU) and Non-Government Organizations in Region 1 after the bureau has expanded the implementation of the Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) activities to the LGUs.

BAR Assistant Director Teodoro Solsoloy commenced the activity as he delivered his opening remarks to the participants where he stressed the importance of research and development activities in the modernization of the agriculture and fisheries sector. Meanwhile, Ms. Salve Ritual and Ms. Elvie Rapada of the Program Development Division (PDD) of BAR lead the orientation and discussed the overview of the CRGM, the RDE grant system along with its implementing guidelines, specific guidelines for the private sector and non-government organizations, format on the preparation of proposals, and the monitoring and evaluation guidelines. Also discussed in the orientation is the revised set of guidelines in availing grants for the CPAR for LGUs.

The CRGM is a component of the Diversified Farm Income and Market Development Project (DFIMDP), a project which aims to stimulate rural growth and farmer's income by enhancing the competitiveness of Philippine agriculture and fisheries.

CRGM is a program designed by the bureau which is intended to strengthen the system of coordination, monitoring and of projects in agriculture and fisheries. It provides the guidelines, rules and procedures to access use and implement R&D projects. It also complements and enhances the processes, procedures and operational systems in agenda setting, proposal preparation and submission, evaluation, review, and monitoring of projects under the National R&D System for Agriculture and Fisheries (NaRDSAF) and in accordance with the unified R&D implementation specified in the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA).

The orientation of CRGM for the LGUs and NGOs kicked-off last November 2007 in Legazpi City. Early this year, another CRGM orientation was also conducted for Region 9 in Zamboanga City.