SEARCA study investigates household-level coping strategies for food security during pandemic

Posted by Raffy Rico | Jul 22, 2022 |

Los Baños, Laguna is the site of a two-country study on coping strategies to ensure food security among urban households during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is jointly implemented by of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and its Indonesia-based sister centers under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). SEARCA is conducting the study in the Philippines, while the SEAMEO Regional Center for Food and Nutrition (RECFON) and SEAMEO Regional Centre for Tropical Biology of SEAMEO (BIOTROP) will implement the study in two cities in Indonesia. According to Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, SEARCA Program Head for Research and Thought Leadership, SEARCA will attempt to enhance the understanding of the experiences of Los Baños communities in coping with food security issues and concerns during the pandemic towards generating policy recommendations that will address them. Dr. Orencio explained that the study intends to determine the status of food security and identify the key determinants of households in Los Baños as well as the range and most common coping strategies adopted and social aids sought and received from government institutions. Moreover, Dr. Orencio said the study will identify which components are most challenging among the households and generate policy recommendations on addressing food security during the COVID-19 pandemic. SEARCA has already met with the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) and the Municipal...

SEARCA, UPLB conduct training for baseline assessment of coconut industry in Quezon province

Posted by Raffy Rico | Jul 15, 2022 |

Representatives from local government units of Quezon Province and Catanauan, Quezon and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) student interns were trained by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in cooperation with UPLB, for a baseline assessment of the coconut industry in Quezon province. The training was led by Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, SEARCA Program Head for Research and Thought Leadership, and Blanquita Pantoja, University Researcher at UPLB and the training technical coordinator. Orencio said the baseline assessment is part of scaling of the processes based on the “SEED Guidebook: Scaling...

USM deploys equipment and supplies for mass production of Tablea for Cotabato partner communities

Posted by Raffy Rico | Jul 14, 2022 |

Written by Eirene Grace Z. Arcayos, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services USM project team with the new equipment for cacao tablea making (Image credit: Dr. Ardniel Baladjay, project leader from USM) The recently received new sets of equipment for mass production of cacao tablea. This is part of the project, “Tablea: Pangkabuhayan Para sa Kotabateňong Pamayanan: Community-Based Tablea Production for Sustainable Livelihood in Cotabato,” funded and monitored by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD). This project is part of the Good Agri-Aqua Livelihood Initiatives towards...

SEARCA, SGOI partner for school edible landscaping for entrepreneurship in Rizal Province

Posted by Raffy Rico | Jul 14, 2022 |

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Manila-based Synergygroup Operations, Inc. (SGOI) have teamed up to implement the Project in Rizal Province. They formalized their partnership in a signing ceremony held on 1 July 2022 at SEARCA in Los Baños, Laguna. The SEL4E Project takes off from the success of the School-plus-Home Gardens Project (S+HGP) implemented by SEARCA in six elementary and high schools in Laguna wherein harvests from the school gardens provided fresh vegetables for the school-based feeding program and enhanced the food and nutrition security of the schoolchildren. From the...

DOST XI Halal Laboratory Granted International Accreditation, Excellence Award

Posted by Raffy Rico | Jul 13, 2022 |

The Department of Science and Technology Region XI (DOST XI) Regional Standards and Testing Laboratory (RSTL): Halal Verification Laboratory (HVL) obtained accreditation for the International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHIA) Global Halal Standard valid until July 2024 and was conferred an excellence award by the Malaysian Halal Consultation & Training (MHCT) Agency last July 8, 2022. The accreditation and recognition came after DOST XI HVL received an overall rating of 95 percent in the Halal compliance audit conducted by Dr. Abdul Rafek Saleh, IHIA Executive Director and MHCT Principal Halal Consultant, with Dr. Jane Tranquilan, Halal lead auditor. With the...

DOST XI Empowers Communities in Davao de Oro through Outreach Program

Posted by Raffy Rico | Jul 12, 2022 |

The Department of Science and Technology XI (DOST XI), through its Provincial Center in Davao de Oro, conducted a community outreach program in Barangay Manurigao, New Bataan, Davao de Oro as part of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology Program (CEST) implementation which aims to empower rural communities and Geographically Isolated Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). Davao de Oro State College- Extension Services Division, partner of DOST in implementing CEST, also participated in the outreach as part of their commitment to serve local individuals by developing strong alliances and partnerships with the community for rapid growth and development. The group...

DOST XI Holds Mobile Photography Workshop for MSMEs

Posted by Raffy Rico | Jul 9, 2022 |

Stressing the impact of good photography in boosting promotions in the 21st century, the Department of Science and Technology XI (DOST XI) through the Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) of Davao Occidental held a “Photography 101” workshop for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) last July 7, 2022. The workshop was led by Mr. Henry de Leon, audiovisual technician, photographer, videographer and media officer of the DOST Science and Technology Information Institute. With the advent of social media and advancements in smartphones, Mr. de Leon emphasized how the use of photography using a simple mobile phone can capture...

Adyenda sa Pangangalaga ng mga Nanganganib na Wika, Isinusulong ng KWF!

Posted by Raffy Rico | Jul 9, 2022 |

Nagtipon-tipon muli ang kinatawan ng mga Katutubong Pamayanang Kultural at mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan para isapinal ang Adyenda sa Pangangalaga ng mga Nanganganib na Wika noong 30 Hunyo–2 Hulyo 2022. Sinimulang buoin ang Adyenda na ito noong 2019 na may pangunahing layunin na ilatag ang pambansang plano para sa pangangalaga, pagpapalakas, at pagpapaunlad ng mga katutubong wika ng Pilipinas, lalo na ang mga wikang nanganganib nang mawala. Layunin din nitong ibalangkas ang mga programa at gawain na magsisilbing gabay ng KWF at ng iba pang ahensiya at institusyon na nais makibahagi sa pangangalaga ng mga wika ng Pilipinas. Inaasahan...

UPLB student’s experiment to be performed on the ISS

Posted by Raffy Rico | Jul 4, 2022 |

William Kevin L. Abran, an undergraduate student of BS Applied Physics, is one of the 24 international finalists of the Asian Try Zero-G (ATZG) 2022 international competition. His entry, “Rotation of ‘Dumbbell-shaped’ Objects in Space,” joins the final six experiments chosen to be performed in the International Space Station (ISS) from a pool of 201 submissions from 480 students and young engineers and researchers, according to the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). The submitted proposals were evaluated based on their scientific significance, novelty, safety, resource requirement, and feasibility. Astronaut Koichi Wakata of the ISS will be in charge of performing...

DHum faculty member recognized by International Council for Media Literacy

Posted by Raffy Rico | Jul 3, 2022 |

Madelyn P. Garcia, assistant professor at the Department of Humanities (DHum), was recognized as one of the inaugural recipients of the Marieli Rowe Innovation in Media Literacy Education Award by the International Council for Media Literacy. She placed fourth with her work “MOW: Meriam’s Online World”, a five-episode TV series that discusses media-related issues based on Filipino youth’s experiences and practices on different online platforms. It is designed to be an after-school viewing program for students in Grades 6 to 9. The Marieli Rowe Innovation in Media Literacy Education Award recognizes works that demonstrate innovative critical thinking and push...

Author: Raffy Rico