CLSU, CLAARRDEC Host DOST-PCAARRD's RAISE Program Batch 2 Inception Meeting

The Central Luzon State University (CLSU), together with the Central Luzon Agriculture, Aquatic, and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC) hosted the launching of the Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Program Batch 2 funded by the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) on October 2, 2023, in a hybrid format, via Zoom and onsite held at the R&E Amphitheatre, CLSU. Dr. Edgar A. Orden, CLSU President, expressed his warm welcome to the participants as he shared his thoughts on the significance of the commercialization of technologies, particularly on producing and supplying raw materials for the upscaling of technologies. He also stressed that as public servants, we are accountable to the government funds granted to us to do research and development activities, thus we must use it judiciously. He then followed up by reminding everyone to be responsible researchers or project/program leaders, especially in submitting terminal/narrative reports and audited financial reports. Meanwhile, Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, DOST-PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management and Support Services, shared in his opening remarks the emergence of the agri-aqua landscape for sustainable development. He also emphasized the role of DOST-PCAARRD in uplifting the agricultural communities and improving the innovation ecosystem for agripreneurship and challenged the group to do their best for the RAISE program. The presentation of the designated project leaders for the main four projects of the program such as Regional Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management (IPTBM), Regional Agri-Hub, Regional Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (ATBI), and Regional Knowledge Management (KM) Hub including the expected outputs and general objectives were discussed by Dr. Vellorimo J. Suminguit, Regional IPTBM Program Leader from Central Mindanao University, Ms. Kathlyn L. Quion, Regional ABH Project Leader from Bohol Island State University (BISU), Dr. Reynante E. Autida, Regional KM Project Leader from Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), Dr. Miladis M. Afidchao, Regional KM Project Leader from Isabela State University (ISU), and Dr. Pablo J. Rafael Jr., Regional Program Leader for the National Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (ATBI) from CLSU. Other topics discussed and presented include the DOST Grants-In-Aid (GIA) Guidelines in Project Implementation and RAISE information monitoring system by Ms. Mae A. Dagaas, TTPD-PCAARRD Senior Science Research Specialist, and the Accounting Rules, Regulations & Financial Documentary Requirements by Ms. Abegail Grace M. Maralit, FAD- PCAARRD Supervising Administrative Officer. Moreover, Mr. Noel A. Catibog, TTPD- PCAARRD Director shared the expected outputs for the RAISE program through the leveling-off presentation, while Ms. Lucy A. Lastimosa, TTPD-PCAARRD Supervising Science Research Specialist discussed the training programs and activity calendar. Also, reminders and timelines of the RAISE program were discussed by Ms. Rubiriza DC. Resuello, Science Research Specialist II, and Ms. Mary Ranzelle A. Pasang, Science Research Specialist I from TTPD- PCAARRD. The inception meeting was attended by more than 90 program/project leaders from Region 2: Isabela State University (ISU), Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU), Batanes State College (BSC), Cagayan State University (CSU), Quirino State University (QSU), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 2 (DA-BFAR R2); Region 3: Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), CLSU, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), PCC at CLSU, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech), Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU), Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC), Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), and Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III (DA RFO III); Region 7: Bohol Island State University (BISU), Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U), Cebu Technological University (CTU), Holy Name University (HNU), and Negros Oriental State University (NORSU); Region 9: Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), J.H. Cerilles State College (JHCSC), Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU), Philippine Rubber Research Institute (PRRI), and Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology University (ZSCMST); Region 10: Central Mindanao University (CMU), Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute Technology (MSU-IIT), Mindanao State University - Naawan (MSUN), University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines - Claveria Campus (USTP-C); Region 12: University of Southern Mindanao (USM), Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU), Mindanao State University- General Santos (MSU GenSan), Cotabato State University (CotSU), Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST), and; Region 13: Caraga State University (CSU), North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU), and Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT). Meanwhile, around 140 participants from the aforesaid regions joined the meeting virtually.