SEARCA, PAFC-Laguna, and Straw Innovations, Ltd. representatives who participated in the signing.
STA. CRUZ, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) strengthened ties with the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC) Laguna and Straw Innovations Ltd., through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that aimed to foster their shared commitments toward a more sustainable agricultural practice signed at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, on 9 August 2024.
The MOU is a derivative of the initial discussion during the Sectoral Committee Meeting on Rice and lecture-workshop among PAFC Laguna members on the effects of climate change and the production of low-emission rice facilitated by the Rice Straw Biogas Hub project, which was held on 21 February 2024.
The signatories present at the event were Assoc. Prof. Joselito Florendo, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration; Mr. Roel Fabillan, Chairperson and Mr. Marlon Tobias, Co-chairperson of PAFC Laguna; and Mr. Jay-Rness Ceria, Business Development Manager, Straw Innovations Ltd.
Atty. Eric Reynoso, Program Head of the Emerging Innovation for Growth Department, also took part in the event by providing all stakeholders with an outline of the MOU and how it could play a major role in sustainable agriculture. The newly formed cooperation would allow the parties involved to share knowledge and skills, as well as devise policies aimed at assisting farmers in dealing with the risks posed by climate change, which affects food production.
Meanwhile, in his welcoming remarks, Deputy Director Florendo also noted that the alliance demonstrates each party's commitment to assisting the farming sector. He underlined that this collaboration aims to uplift agricultural communities, saying, "This MOU is a testament to our collective dedication to enhancing the livelihoods of our farming communities and ensuring food security through cutting-edge solutions."
Mr. Fabillan also expressed his support for the partnership, highlighting that the formalized MOU would benefit not only the agricultural sector but also the entire country. This partnership extends the promotion of pollution reduction, which is one of the leading drivers of climate change. With this institutionalized collaboration, he promised that PAFC Laguna would provide support in whatever endeavors and activities each party would launch in the future.
Mr. Ceria, representing Straw Innovations, emphasized the need for collaboration and synergy among stakeholders to successfully implement and sustain operations that benefit the farming sector, particularly rice farmers. He believed that through this relationship, Straw Innovations could reach more farmers and further aid them using their technological innovations.
(from left to right) Assof. Prof. Joselito Florendo, Deputy Director for Administration, SEARCA; Atty. Eric D. Reynoso, Program Head, Emerging Innovation for Growth; Mr. Roel Fabillan, Chairperson, PAFC-Laguna; Mr. Marlon Tobias, Co-chairperson, PAFC-Laguna; Mr. Jay-Rness Ceria, Business Development Manager, Straw Innovations; and Dr. Luis Victor, Jr., Biogas Energy Consultant, RSBH
Several Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC) chairpersons also attended the event, each expressing their strong support for collaboration and the future shared activities among the parties that would benefit their respective municipalities.
Before parting ways, Dr. Victor Luis, Jr., Rice Straw Biogas Hub Biogas shared his insights about the partnership and its essence with the future generations. "I can see the success of this endeavor, as this signifies that we are the witnesses of how we can empower farmers through the knowledge and technologies that we give," he said.
This MOU signifies the joint commitment of SEARCA, PAFC-Laguna, and Straw Innovations toward a more sustainable and progressive communities.