Thirty-two State Universities and Colleges in the country were recently tapped by the Department of Agriculture to conduct research activities to aid policymakers in coming up with better programs to achieve national food security.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the partnership with various State educational institutions aims to generate updated field-level data and information, as well as create a regional database on agricultural and rural development.
Dar signed the Memorandum of Agreement with Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges and Batangas State University President Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, University of the Philippines through the National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) Project Team Leader Dr. Alex Brillantes, and other SUC presidents last Jan. 26.
“The agreement will enhance good governance, transparency, proper planning, designing, implementation of various programs and projects of DA,” Dar said.
“We have about P90 billion for this year and we will spend every peso properly to ensure food security in this country,” he added.
State universities in Benguet, Mariano Marcos, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Bulacan, Cavite, Romblon, Palawan, Bicol, Catanduanes, Capiz, Negros Oriental, Western Mindanao, Central Mindanao, Mindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Caraga are included in the agreement.
Other involved universities are the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, Pampanga State Agricultural University, Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College, Cebu Normal University, Leyte Normal University, University of Eastern Philippines, Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology, University of Southeastern Philippines, University of Southern Mindanao, Surigao State College of Technology, and Sulu State College.
Under the partnership agreement, the Agriculture department will provide funding support to the SUCs for data and information gathering.
Each SUC will receive P1.5-million funding support while UP-NCPAG will receive P3 million from DA’s Bayanihan II allocation.