SRC Team Bags 1st Place Best R&D Paper at NSAARRD; CLSU-based Reg’l Consortium Receives ‘Gold Milestone’ Award

The Small Ruminant Center (SRC) team, led by Director Neal A. Del Rosario clinched First Place, Best R&D Paper Award (Development Category) during the National Symposium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD) for their project titled “Let’s Doe Business: Goat Milk–Based Livelihood Opportunity to Mitigate the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The award was conferred as part of the 53rd Anniversary of the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST–PCAARRD), held today, January 30, at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The award-winning paper highlighted an innovative livelihood intervention implemented during the pandemic, which empowered communities in Nueva Ecija by capacitating goat farmers and their family members in dairy goat production and milk processing. The initiative provided an alternative source of income while promoting food security and community resilience amid the health crisis. The team is composed of Dr. Edgar A. Orden, Assoc. Prof. Leny Lyn M. Del Rosario, Ms. Evadne S. Veluz, Ms. Lara Melissa Navalta, and Dr. Ma. Exelcis M. Orden. Earlier in the day, the Central Luzon Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC) was also recognized for attaining the Gold Milestone Award, marking nearly five decades of continuous service under its base agency, the Central Luzon State University (CLSU). Established in 1976, CLAARRDEC is among the pioneering regional consortia that helped lay the foundation of the country’s consortia system particularly for the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) sector. In addition, Ms. Rachelle Liberato, Science Research Analyst and member of the CLAARRDEC Secretariat, was honored for her more than three decades of dedicated service, a testament to her invaluable contributions to the consortium’s sustained success and effective operations. Leading the CLSU–CLAARRDEC delegation was Dr. Evaristo A. Abella, CLSU President and RRDCC Chair, and was joined by Engr. Romeolito G. Tacbian, DOST 3 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations; Dr. Emmanuel M. Vera Cruz, CLSU Vice President for Research, Innovation and Extension and CLAARRDEC Director; Assoc. Prof. Maria Adrielle S. Estigoy, Presidential Assistant for CLSU Strategic Communication and CLAARRDEC Science Communication Cluster Coordinator; Mr. Florence Dave Asuncion, Presidential Office Staff; and Ms. Ellen Joy S. Brillo, CLAARRDEC Secretariat member. The long-standing partnership between DOST–PCAARRD and CLSU through CLAARRDEC has been instrumental in advancing the growth of the University and its member institutions in AANR. Through sustained technical assistance and resource support, the collaboration continues to strengthen research, innovation, and development initiatives that benefit both the academic community and the countryside. #SievingForExcellence #CLAARRDEC