DOST-PCAARRD Grant-In-Aid Projects from the College of Forestry and Environmental Science (CFES) and Center for Biodiversity Research and Extension in Mindanao (CEBREM), Central Mindanao University were subjected to onsite project review and field monitoring conducted by DOST-PCAARRD Forestry and Environmental Research Division held at CMU, July 12-15, 2022.
The onsite monitoring and evaluation were graced by the presence of Dr. Jesus Antonio G. Derije, University President who gave his welcome message. Pres. Derije warmly greeted the DOST-PCAARRD and extended his gratitude to the team for giving their time to visit CMU.
“I know that the performance of our research team with the guidance of our VP for Research Development and Extension, our Research Director, and of course our research team, hindi po kayo magsisisi,” Pres. Derije assured.
Dr. Alan P. Dargantes, Vice President for Research Development and Extension, Dr. Emmanuel P. Leaño, NOMCAARRD Director, and some CMU key officials were also present during the event.
Meanwhile, Dr. Faustina C. Baradas, Director Supervising Science Research Specialist of DOST-PCAARRD Forestry and Environmental Research Division led the Monitoring and Evaluation Team. Three projects, one program from CFES and two from CEBREM, presented the initial outputs of their research implementation.
For CFES, the three projects were: (1)” Growth Stress Attributes and Measures to Minimize the Wood Defects of Falcata,” Dr. Mark Jun A. Rojo as the Project Leader; (2) “Pest and Diseases Incidence and Severity in Falcata Plantations in Mindanao,” Dr. Adrian M. Tulod as the Project Leader; and (3) “Conservation and Mass Production of High-yielding Falcata Seed Sources in Mindanao,” Dr. Jupiter V. Casas as the Project Leader. Moreover, the NICER Bamboo R&D program with four projects was presented by Dr. Lowell G. Aribal. For CEBREM, Dr. Fulgent P. Coritico, Project Leader, presented the project entitled “Spore Morphology, Ex-Situ Conservation, and Utilization of Mindanao Indigenous Pteridophytes.” Dr. Coritico also presented another project on behalf of Dr. Victor B. Amoroso entitled “Biodiversity in Selected Mountain Ecosystems in Mindanao for Conservation and Sustainable Development.”
Project and Program Leaders introduced their Research Team and narrated their experiences from the implementation up to their present status. Dr. Cesar Nuevo, Science and Technology Consultant, provided input and recommendations to the Sfor the different projects.
On Day 2, an actual visit to various research sites was conducted. These include Bamboo Center, Spore Morphology Facilities, CFES Clonal Nursery (Conservation and Bamboo Nicer Project 4), GEOMIN (Bamboo Nicer Project 2), Sawmill (Bamboo Nicer Project 1 and 3), and Conservation Hedge Garden and Phase 1 Field Trial). Further, Day 3 visit includes the IPDM Sampling Site at Barangay Guinoyoran, Valencia City and University Museum, and CEBREM for Biodiversity Project.
The DOST-PCAARRD team and S&T Consultant provided significant inputs and comments on each project as part of the review and evaluation. [Maejoy L. Talisay]