(Written by Marie Faye M. De Castro, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services)
Accomplishments of the Good Agri-Aqua Livelihood Initiatives towards National Goals or GALING Program of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) will be bannered in a YouTube Series titled, “Lakbay GALING.”
“Lakbay GALING” captures the different S&T initiatives and outputs of the GALING-PCAARRD program nationwide accented by the scenic spots, culture, and facts about the featured locality.
GALING-PCAARRD program started as a pandemic response in 2020. The program had three components that focus on technology-information sharing, sustainable food production technologies, and livelihood generation for families affected by COVID-19.
Today, the program added Pagkain at Kabuhayan sa Pamayanan, Rebuilding the Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources in Response to CoViD-19, and Smart Food Value Chain Program to cater to the needs of more beneficiaries.
The Council also highlights its ever-increasing support to its stakeholders in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector by creating S&T-based solutions that ease the impact of the pandemic and address the sector’s future challenges.
“Ang GALING PCAARRD ay resulta ng ilang dekadang kultura ng husay at inobasyon ng DOST-PCAARRD sa pangangalaga at pagpapaunlad sa sektor ng agrikultura, pangisdaan, at likas na yaman. Dahil sa programa, napakinggan at nabigyang solusyon ang mga pangangailangan ng maraming komunidad,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña in his message.
According to Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, DOST Undersecretary for R&D, the program was able to address the needs of the regions amidst COVID-19 pandemic.
“Bagaman at ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan ay sinubok din ng COVID-19 pandemic, hindi naputol ang suporta ng DOST-PCAARRD sa mga stakeholders nito lalung-lalo na sa mga rehiyon. Sa pamamagitan ng programang GALING PCAARRD, ay mas pinaghusay ang pagsasagawa ng mga makabuluhang proyekto sa sektor ng agrikultura, pangisdaan, at likas na yaman,” said Dr. Guevara.
GALING-PCAARRD, as the holistic execution of the Council’s mandates and banner programs being the leader in AANR innovations, guarantees that “basta GALING, tatak PCAARRD.”
