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EDITORIAL Hope in S&T Again, S&T takes center stage in the 2011 celebration of the National S&T Week (NSTW). This year’s theme, “Nasa Syensya ang Pag-asa” once more reminds us that sustained economic growth can be achieved with scientific and technological advancement. World history bears this out. Developed countries took this path beginning with the industrial revolution in the late 18 th century. Even the socialist economies flourished from the gains of S&T development. Likewise, just before the turn of the new millennium, some East Asian countries took the same path to development, following the example of neighboring Japan after the world war. Today, China is set to be the next world power boosted by gains in its economy helped in part by its advanced S&T sector. India is likewise a growing economy fuelled by S&T. Slowly, many of the developing world are catching on. Many see the role played by S&T in building strong economies. In the Philippines, the first serious look into the state of S&T in the country was commissioned by President Ramon Magsaysay, prior to his death, after recognizing the potentials of S&T to development. However, it was President Carlos P. Garcia, acting on the recommendation of the survey, who established a science development board to oversee the development of science in the country in 1958. In 1982, the board was transformed into the National S&T Authority with broader policymaking and program implementing functions. It eventually became the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in 1987 in response to the increasing demands for S&T-based intervention in national development. DOST was mandated “to provide central direction, leadership, and coordination of scientific and technological efforts, and ensure that the results there from are geared and utilized in areas of maximum economic and social benefits for the people.” Since its establishment, DOST has continuously exerted efforts to promote and utilize S&T as an engine for national development. Annually, recent developments and achievements in domestic S&T are highlighted in a national S&T week spearheaded by DOST. The celebration was instituted by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 2214 in 1982 and later amended through Republic Act 169 of 1993 declaring the third week of every year as the National Science and Technology Week. PCARRD, for its part, contributes its share in the advancement of S&T in the agriculture, forestry and natural resources (AFNR) sectors. The recently crafted PCARRD Corporate Plan for 2011–2016 lays out the Council’s goals and objectives in providing direction in S&T-led production of competitive agricultural and forestry products while keeping in sight the protection and conservation of biodiversity and the environment. PCARRD aims to: • Effect sustainable food production by making available appropriate solutions to intensify food production to achieve food sufficiency and poverty reduction; • Prime up the countryside through needed livelihood and improved income opportunities generated from research and development (R&D) efforts; • Sustain environmental resilience by generating sciencebased solutions for natural resource management and the environment including climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and watershed protection. It will also support search for alternative energy sources; • Advance AFNR interest through policy R&D; and • Enhance R&D capability and governance through a enabling environment for R&D systems to prosper through progressive and participatory governance mechanism. If PCARRD achieves these goals then there is definitely hope for economic and sustainable development in the country, especially in the AFNR sector. 2 April–June 2011
NEWS MONITOR Faylon opens AFNR Program Forum “Understand the root cause of the problem on agriculture, forestry, and natural resources (AFNR) graduates supply and demand.” PCARRD Executive Director Patricio S. Faylon emphasized this need during the National Forum on the state and future supply of and demand for AFNR graduates in the Philippines last May 3, in Makati City as part of the big umbrella program, Enhancing the Demand for AFNR Graduates through S&T. The forum was hosted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and attended by project stakeholders such as DOST, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Labor and Employment - Bureau of Local Employment (DOLE-BLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), state universities and colleges (SUCs), AFNR regional teams, and national coordinators. CHED, PIDS, PCARRD, and the University of the Philippines conceptualized the policy research component of the program. In consultation with Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), they sought to identify the factors causing the downtrend in enrolment in AFNR courses as well as the factors affecting the supply of and demand for AFNR graduates. During the forum, Faylon recognized the effort of the team in determining the state and predicting the future supply of and demand for AFNR graduates in the country. For more than a year, the team reviewed literature, inventoried human resources, traced graduates, surveyed employers, analyzed data, modeled supply and demand and projected the same. They conducted policy research by region and integrated the results at the national level. Partners from more than 30 implementing institutions across 14 regions and more than 100 higher education institutions continued on page 7 ► The PCARRD Monitor 3
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Page 5 and 6: NEWS MONITOR Phil-Aus project... (f
Page 7 and 8: anged from 10.47 tons/ha to 100.02
Page 9 and 10: GIS and IT... (from page 8) land ca
Page 11 and 12: Computer vision system for milled r
Page 13 and 14: entrepreneurship in various AFNR cu
Page 15 and 16: Healthy Flavors... (from page 14) A

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