LOS BAÑOS, Laguna: The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on Thursday said that it has presented its proposal to establish the $1.8 million AgriMuseum to Southeast Asian education ministers in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Gil Saguiguit Jr., SEARCA director, said the Southeast Asian (SEA) AgriMuseum and Learning Center that was presented during the July 24-26 Jakarta biennial meeting of ministers of 11 SEA countries is expected to be completed by 2019.
"We see the SEA AgriMuseum as an innovative approach to promote awareness and draw attention to agriculture and its all-important role in food security, poverty alleviation and overall development of economies in the region that are highly dependent on it," Saguiguit said.
The project was included in the agenda of this high-level meeting on the instigation of Thai Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin who is concurrently the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council president.
SEARCA also presented at the 49th SEAMEO Council Conference the design of the interactive museum, which will be one of the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.
"SEARCA is actively inviting partners in the project, including the public and private sector, particularly food or agri-related companies that could contribute to it as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts," Saguiguit said.