News > BAR organizes DA-SUC Collaborative Extension Service Planning Workshop for Mindanao Cluster

BAR organizes DA-SUC Collaborative Extension Service Planning Workshop for Mindanao Cluster

4 July 2008
Raymond Patrick L. Cabrera

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) National Experts Team and DA-Regional Field Unit XI (RFU), organized the "DA and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) Collaborative Extension Service Planning Workshop for the Mindanao Cluster" on 4 July 2008 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City. The activity was a follow-up of the national consultation held on 21 May 2008 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) Executive Director Janet M. Lopoz welcomed the participants. She expressed MEDCo's full support to the initiatives of the program, particularly in defining the Collaborative Extension Service for the Agricultural and Fisheries Sector in Mindanao. Meanwhile, Regional Technical Director (RTD) Romulo S. Palcon of the DA-RFU XI provided the opening message for the activity highlighting on the importance of the collaboration between DA and SUCs.

In providing a coherent background on the activity, Dr. Santiago R. Obien, technical adviser of BAR presented the highlights of the consultation activity conducted in May 2008 while Mr. Abner Montecalvo of PhilRice-Agusan presented the National Rice Program with emphasis on production and extension and Mindanao updates. These presentations were followed by Dr. Rogelio V. Cuyno explaining and discussing the integrated promotional, knowledge dissemination and technology transfer process in agriculture particularly on rice production.

During the workshop, the following were identified as possible extension support that the SUCs can provide to DA: 1) training, 2) preparation of training materials, 3) seed production, 4) assistance in preparing area extension plan, 5) providing content (from research and best practices) of extension activities, 6) applied research and demonstration of technology, 7) radio-support to field activities considering the lack of field personnel by providing broadcast-ready materials.

Participants expressed their willingness, enthusiasm and commitment to join the collaborative arrangement for a shared extension service by identifying and listing the promotional, advocacy, knowledge dissemination and techno transfer activities and division of labor for their respective regional coverage. The workshop was facilitated by members of the DA National Experts Team composed of Dr. Santiago R. Obien, Dr. Rogelio V. Cuyno, and Dr. Ruben L. Villareal.

The activity was attended by presidents, vice presidents for Research, Development and Extension, and extension directors from selected SUCs in Mindanao, namely: University of Southern Mindanao, Central Mindanao University, Mindanao State University, University of Southeastern Philippines, Sultan Kudarat Polytechnic State College and Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology). Other attendees included Mindanao DA regional executive directors, RTDs and RIARC managers/staff, and PhilRice-Agusan and Midsayap Branch managers/staff.

GMA Rice Program Director Frisco M. Malabanan provided answers on the queries of the SUCs regarding the rice program in Mindanao.

The consultation, which is the first among the batches of DA-SUC Collaborative Extension Service Planning Workshops that will be conducted for the regions, was organized to work out the actual working relationship and plan of action for the agreed collaborative extension service between DA and the SUCs in Mindanao.

The workshops for the Luzon and Visayas cluster are already being planned by BAR and DA National Experts Team.