Now on its final leg of scoping mission, the project team from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Provincial Government of Quezon (PG Quezon) will conduct a planning workshop on 19 October 2021via the Zoom platform. This is in line of the ongoing partnership titled, The Project Development on Coconut Industry Growth Areas in the Province of Quezon, and of SEARCA’s initiative of scaling up successful agricultural and rural development (ARD) research models to other crops and locations within and outside the country. Ultimately, this consultative workshop is aimed at finalizing the project proposal by validating the baseline information; sharing and harvesting feedback from stakeholders on the draft project rationale, strategic framework, and logical framework; and summarizing stakeholder comments, commitments, and way forward for the project. This will also confirm key project design, elements, and activities and determine the scope and level of engagements of the participants.
The workshop will be participated in by the Local Government Unit of Catanauan, national and regional government agencies (i.e., Philippine Coconut Authority, PCA; Department of Science and Technology through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development DOST-PCAARRD; Department of Trade and Industry, DTI: Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, TESDA; and the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council, PAFC), the Southern Luzon State University (SLSU), private sectors, farmers and farmer-organizations, and other key coconut industry players in the province. Overall, this workshop will activate the engagement of rural communities, institutions, and organizations for a better communication among major stakeholders and strengthened capabilities towards achieving positive impacts in the agricultural industry of the province, as stipulated in the SEARCA’s 11th Five Year Plan (FYP), with its umbrella theme of Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation (ATTAIN).
The workshop is spearheaded by Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, Program Head; Ms. Anna Gale C. Vallez, Program Specialist; Ms. Rochella B. Lapitan, Senior Program Associate; and Ms. Ruth Jazrel M. Bandong, Project Associate, all of the Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD) of SEARCA. On the other hand, Mr. Alexander C. Garcia, Supervising Agriculturist; Mr. John Arrish S. Ocampo, Planning Officer II; and Ms. Ma. Leonellie G. Dimalaluan, Asst. Provincial Agriculturist for Crop Production and Support Services, all of the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAgO) Quezon, will also lead the workshop on behalf of PG Quezon. Professor Mayo Grace C. Amit, the project’s Technical Coordinator, will be the facilitator and moderator of the planning workshop.