The Philippines and China are one in seeking to strengthen the more than four decades of bilateral ties between the two countries.
Establishing long-term and stable partnership among research institutes in the Philippines and in China is one of the priorities.
This is evident when the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China’s Jiangxi Academy of Forestry (JAF) and the Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JxAAS).
“The MOU is a product of the efforts of the Philippines’ DOST and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) that have been actively working together in identifying collaborative activities that will mutually benefit both agencies in bamboo post harvest processing and rice research,” the DOST-PCAARRD in a statement.
The MOU was signed by DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo Ebora, JAF President Yang Jiefang, and JxAAs President Dai Xingzhao on Sept. 6.
The Council cited that the areas of cooperation were identified during the 14th PH-China Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology (JCMST) in 2017 to fortify the existing biennial science and technology (S&T) platform between the two countries.
Following the signing of the MOU, the DOST-PCAARRD and JAF agreed to push the following initiatives:
- Establishing the Philippines-China joint laboratory on bamboo;
- Research and technology promotion on advanced processing technology of bamboo resources;
- Demonstration and showcasing of new technologies and products; and
- Academic exchange, technical training, and capacity building services.
“JAF will be working with the Philippines’ Forest Products Research and Development Institute of DOST (DOST-FPRDI) under this area of cooperation,” the Council said.
Meanwhile, the partnership between the DOST-PCAARRD and JxAAS focuses on the implementation of the following projects:
-Adaptation trial and demonstration of green high-benefit and rice-fishery symbiotic farming models;
- Rice breeding related to rice-fish farming;
- Demonstration and showcase of relevant new technologies, products, models, and intelligent agriculture related to rice-fish farming;
- Exchange visits of scientists, researchers, and S&T administrative staff; Policy consultations;
-Technical trainings and hosting of thesis/dissertation studies;
-Sharing of information resources related to the joint program; and
- Other forms of cooperation that may be mutually agreed upon.
“JxAAS will be implementing these proposed projects with DOST-PCAARRD’s partners in the region— the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Central Luzon State University (CLSU).”
DOST Assistant Secretary Leah J. Buendia expressed the Philippines and DOST’s strong support and commitment to the sealed partnership on bamboo research and rice technology.
“We hope to continue to build our partnership by providing adequate avenues for collaborative research and development, as well as other capacity building mechanisms and people-to-people exchanges. Likewise, we hope that as we move forward, we continuously see the value of collaborating and helping each other towards our areas of common interest in order to strengthen our evolving and growing scientific community,” she said.
Elaine Mae Laruan-Hernandez from the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen and DOST-PCAARRD’s partners: DOST- FPRDI Director Dr. Romulo Aggangan and Deputy Director Rico Cabangon; CLSU President Dr. Edgar Orden; and PhilRice Executive Director John de Leon, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Deputy Executive Director for Research Eduardo Jimmy Quilang, and Supervising Science Research Specialist Myrna Malabayabas witnessed the MOU signing ceremony.
“DOST is looking forward to more partnership opportunities to be implemented with MOST and other Chinese agencies and institutions to enhance and demonstrate the value of robust international cooperation in addressing the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the DOST-PCAARRD said.