“No pain, no gain.”  This year’s Regional Symposium on R&D Highlights of  ILARRDEC, conducted at the Pangasinan State University – Lingayen Campus on 11-12 August ,  is the crowning moment of PhilRice-Batac as their three paper entries  captured all the awards in the development  category.

The paper entitled “Location specific technology for vegetables in Ilocos Norte”  won first place. This is authored by Evangeline Agres, Alma Aguinaldo, Bethsaida Catudan, Nida Abrogena, Rey Castro, Leo Inocensio and May Joy Gappi. The second place was the paper “PhilRice panicle thresher-corn sheller for the Ilocos” by Reynold  Caoili, E Bautista, RC Castro and Mary Ann Baradi. The third place was the paper “Profitability of the Palayamanan in Northwest Luzon” by Alma Aguinaldo.

On the other hand, the two student-presentors from the Mariano Marcos State University won the first and the second places in the undergraduate category. The paper entitled “Extraction, characterization and transesterification of oil from Kalumpa (Sterculia foedita L.) seeds” won first place. This  was the undergraduate thesis of Ms. Marilou Cabanela, BS Chemical Engineering under the advisorship of Engr. Rosalie P. Agcaoili.  The thesis of  a newly licensed agriculturist, Mr. Sean Vidad, won second place. This is all about  the “Home-mixed ration for  finishing pigs” under  the advisorship of Prof. Roseminda Sair. The paper “Geographic information system-aided identification of potential sites for beekeeping in La Union” won third place. This was the undergraduate thesis of Mr. Leonard  Cachero of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University.

Winners in the research and poster categories are the following:

Research category

1^st Place          “Verification of venturi  furnace on flue-curing of Virginia tobacco “ by  RJ Raganit, OD Cortero, LR Truong, CA Cabigan, CA Masiglat, MB Rafael & HC Ruguian o– National Tobacco Administration

2^nd Place        “Low-cost tissue culture production and nursery establishment of Musa sp. Lakatan” by MLS Gabriel, AJ Badar, MI Atis, & ME Pascua – Mariano Marcos State University

3^rd Place       “Vulnerability assessment of Cabalisian-Viray sub-watersheds and Buaya River  watershed for environmental protection and disaster control” by LS Amada, LP Calacal, CC Domingo Jr., RO Ridual, PP Pajar & GC garcis – Department of Environment and Natural Resources –Region I

Poster Category (Information for Dissemination)

1^st Place         “Dagiti kabaruanan a barayti ti igges seda” by JP Abuan, et.al. Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University- Sericulture Research and Development Institute

2^nd Place        “Mga barayti ng palay sa tag-ulan maaasahan” by EJA Franco, et.al. – Department of Agriculture – Ilocos Integrated  Agriculture Research Center

3^rd Place       “Agmulatayo ti tabungaw no panagtutudo nga awan ti kemikal a pestisidio” by BS Malab, MI Atis, LB Tomas, FC Pastor, CD Pastor, LA Lutap, & EO Agustin – Mariano Marcos State University

Poster Category (Technology for Dissemination)

1^st Place         “Ilaw na bitag: pamuksa sa mga pesteng kulisap” by AD SOlsoloy, MG Begornia, JS Tolentino, AK Castillo, JA BAligat, JM Datuin, PL Mones - Department of Agriculture – Ilocos Integrated  Agriculture Research Center

2^nd Place         “Makakalikasang pamamaraan ng pagseserikultura” by MM Cacaam et.al. - Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

3^rd Place          “Kulay ube ang pera mo, saan ka pa?” by E Pera – Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

There were 40  papers presented, including the plenary paper of Dr. Marilyn Baguinon, a DOST Balik Siyentista,  and 24 posters displayed in the two-day symposium. 

This 21^st  symposium  focused on the theme “ILARRDEC @ 30:Responding to challenges in food security and climate change through S&T”. Dr. Miriam Pascua, the RRDCC Chair of ILARRDEC presented, in her message, figures on the status of the country about poverty, food security,  and climate change. She challenged each one to be more responsive in terms of addressing such alarming scenarios in our own research and development activities.