PhilSCAT Inaugurates New Breeding Laboratories

The Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT), one of the specialized R&D centers of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), held the inauguration and blessing of its three new laboratories and cold-water irrigation system for hybrid rice breeding on March 25, 2022. The event was graced by the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Honorable Huang Xilian along with a pool of Chinese hybrid rice experts. The Department of Agriculture Secretary (DA) William D. Dar attended the event and served as the guest speaker together with the different DA officials and heads of its attached agencies. As a recipient of agricultural grants from China, PhilSCAT successfully implemented three Technical Cooperation Programs (TCP) over the past twenty years which facilitated the exchange of experts from both countries for technical cooperation, development of high-yielding hybrid rice, and establishment of seed production technology demonstration sites in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Davao Oriental. Delighted with the progress and accomplishments of PhilSCAT through TCPIII, Hon. Amb. Huang Xilian expressed his support and commitment to pushing for the fourth phase of the cooperation to further strengthen the technical support for agricultural modernization in the country. “Let’s continue to promote two-way exchanges between the governments and the business community to ensure local food supply, livelihood improvement, and the resiliency of Philippine agriculture,” he added.   In support of this endeavor and recognizing the current problem of shortage and high prices of fertilizers experienced by Filipino farmers, Hon. Amb. Huang Xilian handed the Chinese Embassy’s donation amounting to 4 million pesos worth of fertilizers to the country through the DA. As a response, Sec. Dar conveyed his gratitude for the assistance provided by the Chinese Embassy to the Philippines and signified his full support for the TCP program. He also hailed PhilSCAT for their continuous research on hybrid rice production. “With our aim to help the farmers and improve their level of productivity, these investments and collaboration with China is a testament that agricultural technology will always be the engine of growth and development for the country,” said Sec. Dar. Moreover, as the host institution, CLSU President Edgar A. Orden recognized the contribution of the Chinese government and the unwavering support of the Department of Agriculture which led to the success and significant contribution of PhilSCAT in attaining food security at the height of the pandemic.