Oriental Mindoro partners reaffirm commitment to the Piloting ISARD Calamansi Project

15 August 2016

Mr. Elmer Cobarrubias, Municipal Agriculturist, Mayor Joselito Malabanan, and Prof. Rolando T. Bello discussing about the commitment of the LGU in the ISARD project

VICTORIA, ORIENTAL MINDORO, Philippines – A courtesy call was made with newly elected Mayor Joselito Malabanan on 3 August 2016 to brief him about SEARCA and the ISARD Piloting project in this municipality. Prof. Rolando Bello, the Overall Coordinator to the ISARD Program, together with the Municipal Agriculturist, Mr. Elmer Cobarrubias, introduced SEARCA as a partner of the LGU and the Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology (MinSCAT) in the Calamansi Rehabilitation Project in Victoria. After walking him through the previous activities and the status of the project, the mayor assured the commitment of the municipality by extending all the assistance that he can offer to the project.

Also present during the meeting were the President of the Victoria Kalamansi Farmers Federation (VKFF), Mr. Ruel Sanchez, the Federation Secretary, Ms. Virginia dela Cruz, and the MinSCAT ISARD team headed by the Project On-site Coordinator, Dr. Ma. Concepcion Mores.

On 5 August 2016, the research team headed by SEARCA’s Research and Development Program Head, Dr. Bessie Burgos, also paid courtesy to Dr. Jesse T. Zamora, MinSCAT President.

Dr. Zamora assured SEARCA of his full support to the project. He indicated the expansion of the MinSCAT-ISARD team to which he added more people to work on the implementation of the upcoming project activities and who will also serve as the technical assistance committee for the farmers.

Joining the SEARCA-ISARD team in the meeting were Dr. Lourdes Icalla, Ms. Katherine Torres, and Dr. Mores. (Angelic Reglos)

L-R: Ms. Katherine Torres, Dr. Lourdes Icalla, Dr. Ma. Concepcion Mores, Dr. Bessie Burgos, Pres. Jesse Zamora, Prof. Rolando Bello, and Ms. Angelic Reglos