The Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) and the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST) sealed a new partnership during the Project Inception and Memorandum of Agreement Signing last May 11, 2021 at the said college.

As part of this partnership, DA-PRDP will be giving P2 million funding support for the study on “Vulnerability Assessment of Pacific Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and Associated Species through the Fisheries Value Chain: Enhancing Inclusivity through Social, Economic, Participation, and Sustainability.”

The said project will be conducted by the proponents joined by Dr. Misael B. Clapano, Mr. Edison Roi D. Macusi, and Engr. France Guillian B. Rapiz.

Present during the MOA signing were DOSCST SUC President III Dr. Roy G. Ponce, DA-PRDP Deputy Project Director Mr. Noel T. Provido, and I-PLAN Component Head Mr. Cerenio T. Tila.

Phase 1 for this project will commence this coming June until December 2021 followed by Phase 2 on January to March 2022.

This project is funded by DA-PRDP’s I-PLAN component under sub-component 1.2.

Aside from DOSCST, DA-PRDP also has an on-going project with Mindanao State University (MSU) for the propagation of lab generated Euchematoids Seaweeds.

DA-PRDP’s I-PLAN Component aims to enhance the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Plan (AFMP) through the use of science-based tools and to harmonize regional and provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan through the formulation of the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan using the Value Chain Approach. (JOY M. MONTECALVO, PSO Min)