By Niño Manaog
With reports from John Latoza and Veronica Albaladejo
2010 has been very productive for the University’s Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC), one prolific group of managers and staff working their way to contribute much to the University. Week in, week out, their hands are always full, attending to research activities and conducting livelihood trainings to the barangays, women’s groups, out-of-school youths, and the rest of the community.
For the past three years, the CapSU administration has continually assisted the R&D and extension programs of the university. Through the efforts of the Vice-President for Research and Extension, Dr. Geronimo Gregorio, CapSU encouraged the faculty to get involved in research projects in their respective fields. The university’s Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) also facilitated the attendance and participation of the research faculty and staff to the different forums.
CapSU’s involvement in activities and projects of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) allowed the R&D consortium to closely work with the university. In particular, Dr. Geronimo L. Gregorio has served as the Regional Research and Development Group (RRDG) coordinator since 2009; while Dr. Cora F. Navarra, dean of the graduate school in CapSU Mambusao, served as the Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) coordinator from 2008 to the present. In such capacities, CapSU’s visibility in the consortium work cannot be overrated.
Led by Coordinator Cora F. Navarra, the articles of the Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) on WESVARRDEC programs, updates and activities have been published in the Panay News, a regional daily broadsheet with national circulation, on wesvarrdec.blogspot.com and the PCARRD national portal. All throughout the year, Dr. Cora F. Navarra, Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) coordinator of WESVARRDEC wrote with CapSU Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra the farm primer titled Ang Pag-obra kag mga Gamit sang Uling nga Ugabhang (Carbonized Rice Hull), published by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Forestry Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). Among other accomplishments, Navarra helped in publishing two other primers on coconut production and mango processing for WESVARRDEC. All these materials were published by PCARRD based in University of the Philippines Los Banos.
According to WESVARRDEC Director Joseph Edward Idemne, the consortium in this period displayed vibrant leadership and performance, evident in the number of researches produced for the consortium and in the information campaigns. Moreover, even PCARRD virtually and publicly lauded the consortium’s efforts in the latter, even as it rallied efforts on information campaigns and dissemination. By holding research forums and consultations, CapSU’s present administration has highly encouraged everyone to assist in the full implementation of the R&D projects.
During the year, researches by faculty and students were presented during in-house reviews and R&D activities of the campuses. Faculty and students also underwent technology development trainings on a number of technologies including fish processing and coastal resources.
In March 2010, Engr. Pedro Celo, the University’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) director, working with Research Director Federito Launio, presented the Intellectual Property Guidelines and Policies of the University during the Academic Council Meeting. According to Celo, CapSU’s IP policy and guidelines is essentially designed to help researchers and inventors apply for patent to protect their studies and inventions.
Managers and staff of the Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) joined the Forum on Call for Papers for Technology Commercialization and other Research Proposals in June 2010 held in Iloilo City.
The office of Vice-President for Research & Extension Geronimo L. Gregorio also submitted revised research proposals to CHED for funding. These included the research studies titled the “Seed Technology and Farming Systems Development for Sweet Sorghum in the Province of Capiz” and the “Economics, Varietal Characterization and Technology Development for Indigenous Upland Rice in the Province of Capiz.”
The Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) also submitted revised research proposal to CHED-Zonal Research Center; while the major research project titled “Socio-Economic, Biological, Hydrological and Physico-Chemical Assessment of the Panay River Systems: Its Implications to Development and Climate Change” was also submitted for funding by PCARRD.
Highlighting CapSU’s research involvement was its participation in WESVARRDEC’s Regional Symposium on R&D Highlights at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos in Bacolod City. Capiz State University’s “Bio-physico-chemical Attributes of Mature Nuts of Coconut Hybrids as Quality Indices for Economic Utilization” won third place in the Poster Category.
The Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) also conducted the Research and Extension Proposal Making writeshop in CapSU Dayao in Roxas City.
In varied schedules, Capiz State University’s Technical Working Group also joined conference and other research undertakings led by the Department of Science & Technology (DOST) based in Iloilo City and in September, CapSU sent participants to training titled Utilizing the Mass Media to Popularize Technical Information and Research sponsored by the Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC).
In September, CapSU sent participants to training titled Utilizing the Mass Media to Popularize Technical Information and Research sponsored by the Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC).
In the 2nd Regional Symposium on Research and Development Highlights led by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) VI, at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) on October 29, 2010, the “Bio-physico-Chemical Attributes of Mature Nuts of Coconut Hybrids as Quality Indices for Economic Utilization” presented by Dr. Federito Launio of the Capiz State University (CapSU) topped the 14 papers presented in the Natural and Biological Sciences category. For the technology and development category, the Design and Development of Jatropha Gas Stove” by Pedro Celo, Efren Linan and Reem Berondo, Capiz State University placed Third Runner-up, while the Agronomic Performance of NSIC-Released Rice Varieties Seeded in Varying Rates under Rainfed Lowlands by Benjamin Gutierrez and Geronimo Gregorio, Capiz State University won First Runner-up for the natural and biological sciences category.
In mid-October, Dr. Geronimo L. Gregorio, vice-president for research and extension, and DENR led by Dr. Alicia L. Lustica, regional technical director, proposed to Gov. Tanco, Sr. the establishment of the Western Visayas Bamboo Research Center (WVBRC) as the center of excellence in bamboo research, development and extension in Region VI.
According to the proposal, WVBRC commits “to improve the production, utilization and commercialization of bamboo through high-quality research and extension activities.” Among others, Gregorio lobbied to Tanco for the development of a database for bamboo in Region 6 and the establishment of a germplasm collection, nursery and plantation which would help generate responsive information and technologies for bamboo.
The CapSU-DENR tandem also sought to promote bamboo as an ecologically and economically viable crop and committed themselves for the attainment of a vibrant bamboo industry in the region. Gregorio sought the support of the governor facilitate the funding of the nursery operations plantation rehabilitation and maintenance and supplies and equipment. DENR’s Lustica emphasized that the bamboo hub project fits well with the eco-tourism project of the province even as it seeks to generate livelihood initiative for bamboo farmers across the province and even the region.
The proposal elicited favorable comment from Tanco who stressed on the tourism prospects for the province which could be helped by the bamboo project. Tanco then directed the project leaders to coordinate with the Capiz provincial office to prepare for a memorandum of agreement that will formalize the participation and partnership of CapSU, DENR and the province of Capiz.
At the start of the third quarter, it was officially announced that Capiz State University has very satisfactorily performed as a government agency in the first six months of 2010. This is according to the result issued by the Department of Budget and Management who conducted for CapSU its agency performance review in the said period.
According to the review result released October 12, 2010, CapSU obtained an overall weighted rating of 5.50 over 7.25 perfect score, with an adjectival rating of Very Satisfactory. CapSU’s accomplishments scored high at 5.50, or Very Satisfactory, which is an aggregate score of its physical accomplishment, financial accomplishment and income accomplishment.
Both physical and financial accomplishments rated Very Satisfactory, while the income performance ranked Fair at 0.30. Under Instruction, one of the components of CapSU’s physical performance, the weighted enrolled units recorded 5.75; faculty profile, 3.0; and merit scholarships, 3.50. Under the Qualitative area of physical accomplishments, CapSU’s accreditation status contributed 4.0 and its PRC performance posted 2.0.
According to the same report, both research and extension areas retained their last year’s figures and ratings. Under Research, four research outputs were cited by other researches, 24 were referred in other publications and some 28 researchers across the CapSU system were identified. All these components posted a weighted score of 7.0, the perfect score for the area. In Extension, the 16 recognized extension programs launched and conducted by CapSU’s Extension Institute posted the weighted perfect score of 3.50.
Vice-President for Research & Extension Geronimo L. Gregorio said the ratings gained by research and extension compliment the performance of the employees working hard to carry out CapSU’s mission vision on research and extension. Gregorio takes pride in the said achievement, saying, “We have accomplished what is expected of us—we produced the necessary output.” For Gregorio, the ratings in research and extension areas prove that “[we] have exceeded the expectations.
At the end of the year, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved the University’s Php 2.6 million worth of R & D projects. The grant allows 5 major researches with an average of 3 studies each. The first project dealt with the Socio-economic Profile, Behavioral Perspectives and Farming Practices among Upland Rice Farmers in the Province of Capiz; the second project was on Collection and Characterization of Indigenous Upland Rice in the Highlands of the Province of Capiz; the third project was on Technology Development and Evaluation to Optimize the Production Potentials of Indigenous Upland Rice in the Province of Capiz; the fourth project was on “Post-harvest Management for Indigenous Upland Rice in the Province of Capiz” and the fifth project was on Technology in Farming Systems Development for Sweet Sorghum in the Province of Capiz
The Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) also started implementing the R&D project funded by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 6. The projects have been granted Php850,000 worth of research projects to be undertaken.
To date, Capiz State University has submitted twelve research proposals to the Federation of Crop Science Societies in the Philippines (FCSSP), particularly to the Crop Science Cluster (CSC) based in UP Los Baños. Research proposals were also submitted for Senator Edgardo Angara’s PDA fund under the 2011 General Appropriations.
Besides the awards gained at the WESVARRDEC’s Regional Symposium on Research and Development Highlights and the R&D symposium led by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Region 6, Capiz State University qualified in the regional search for best research project for higher educational institutions (HEIs) in region launched by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). CapSU’s efforts became one of the two entries of Western Visayas for the national competition.
