ATWGARD and Project Team Leaders visit SEARCA

19 November 2014

SEARCA Director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., the Management Committee with the ATWGARD focal points, and the SEARCA Project Team.

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – The representatives of the ASEAN Technical Working Group on Agriculture and Research Development (ATWGARD) from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam,and the national project team leaders visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 11 November 2014 to know more about Center's programs and activities.

Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., SEARCA Director, welcomed and briefed the participants on the Center’s programs and activities for research and development, graduate education and institutional development, and knowledge management programs. The participants were also given a preview of SEARCA’s Tenth Five-year Plan covering fiscal years 2014/2015 to 2019/2020.

Also present at the briefing were Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma, Program Head for Graduate Scholarship; Dr. Mariliza V. Ticsay, Unit Head for Knowledge Resources; Ms. Rosario B. Bantayan, Program Specialist; and Dr. Lope B. Santos III, Program Specialist and Officer in Charge of Project Development and Technical Services.

The participants also visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), University of the Philippines Los Baños-Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), and ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). (Kristine Joy S. Villagracia)

The participants during their visit to IRRI.

IPB Director Dr. Calixto M. Protacio briefs the participants on IPB’s technologies and processes on corn, vegetables, and other crops.

ACB Director for Programme Development and Implementation Dr. Clarissa C. Arida welcomed and briefed the delegates on the Center’s thrusts on biodiversity and climate change.