Aside from infrastructure and enterprise subprojects, the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) also funds Research and Development (R&D) activities for the development of priority commodities.

These R&D projects will be conducted under the Local and National Level Planning Component (I-PLAN) that supports the implementation of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan (AFMP) of the Department of Agriculture.

In a meeting held with PRDP, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and various State Universities and Colleges in the CALABARZON region on August 15, 2019 in Antipolo City, Regional Technical Director and PRDP CALABARZON Social and Environmental Safeguards Unit Head, Elmer Ferry, emphasized the importance of R&D to the agriculture sector.

“With the assumption of Secretary William Dar to the Department, a renewed focus on research will be seen. Aside from AFMP, our research policies will be anchored on the Philippine Development Plan. Likewise, these funding being offered by the PRDP will help us address gaps in the value chain. It will be science-based and will help increase the productivity and prosperity,” Ferry said.

Present during the meeting were representatives from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Cavite State University, South Luzon Polytechnic University, and BFAR, who were among the signatories in the Memorandum of Understanding on interagency convergence initiative to use the Provincial Commodity Investment Plans (PCIPs).

According to Crystal Jade Padonan, PRDP CALABARZON I-PLAN Component Head, these research proposals shall be based on the recommendations on each PCIPs.

Alene Gregorio, PRDP South Luzon Project Support Office Planning Officer, presented the guidelines in the implementation of such R&D endeavors. To be considered for funding, research proposals must satisfy these conditions: can be applied with clear output; develop and transfer technologies; focused on providing the science-based foundation for decision-making during planning, programming, and budgeting processes; have clear target beneficiaries; and be sustainable.

Gregorio also shared other R&D activities in the South Luzon cluster. The R&D for the mangrove crab industry of Catanduanes State University is currently on its implementation stage while the R&Ds for Calamansi and Pili in Oriental Mindoro and Bicol, respectively, are up for implementation awaiting in the compliances.

“This is a good initiative. Its impact will be bigger as our research proposals can directly affect the livelihood and productivity of our farmers and fishers,” Dr. Barbara Caoili, UPLB Associate Dean for Research and Extension of the College of Agriculture and Food Science, said.

While the target implementation of the research activities is in 2021, submission of the proposals and processing of documents will start in the last quarter of 2019. ### (Lawrence Albert Bariring, DA-PRDP CALABARZON RPCO InfoACE Unit)

RTD Elmer Ferry acknowledges state universities and colleges as partner in developing the agri-fishery sector in the country.