The Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) under the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), is currently celebrating its 50th founding anniversary.

Mandated by Presidential Decree 729, IPB is committed to developing new and improved varieties of useful and important agricultural crops, undertaking investigations in plant breeding and crop improvement, conserving and managing plant genetic resources, and helping stakeholders in the multiplication of quality seeds and planting materials.

To date, IPB has developed over 200 crop varieties of cereals, vegetables, legumes, fruits, ornamentals, root crops, and feed and industrial crops, which are registered with the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) and the IPB Germplasm and Technology Registration and Release Office (IPB GTRRO).

As part of the golden jubilee, IPB honored exemplary employees and teams on June 5 at the E.B. Copeland Gymnasium, UPLB. The recognition is conducted annually and this year was special as the anniversary program was graced by the President of the UP System, Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, and National Scientist and IPB Founding Director Dr. Emil Q. Javier.

UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr., in his message, commended IPB for its five decades of dedication to public service and uplifting farmers’ livelihoods and contributing to the country’s food and nutrition security.

“To our service awardees, thank you for your years of steadfast commitment and hard work. To outstanding personnel and project teams, your excellence uplifts the entire UPLB community. To our longtime collaborators and partners, your trust, support, and belief in IPB’s mission have made this journey more meaningful,” he said.

Camacho assured IPB of the university’s full support in its ongoing and future endeavors. “May you continue to plant seeds of hope, harvest knowledge, and cultivate change for the nation and beyond,” he added.

Jimenez emphasized in his keynote address that UP, as a premier State university, must be a hub for transformational change, engaging communities to help solve real-world problems. “We are not just in the business of research; we are in the business of national survival, and we are in the business of projecting the future a hundred years from now,” he said.

Jimenez congratulated IPB for its progress and remarkable contributions to Filipino farmers and communities.

After messages from university officials, the program was followed by the presentation of loyalty service awards and appreciation for the retirees, Raol P. Pamiloza, a university researcher, and administrative personnel  Ramon Christopher G. Alip, Janice O. Apolinario, Kristine Joy V. Carandang, Josephine I. Galicia, Rolyn N. Gonzales, Roel M. Lawas, Ivan Julius W. Madrid, Ariel T. Makiling, Ferdinand Oane, Rosiel C. Ondoy, Lorena D. Velasco, and Anthony P. Vicencio for their 10 years of service.

For 15 years of service, awardees were Lorna G. Matanguihan (University Extension Associate), Maria Alma B. Sanchez (University Researcher), Jerome S. Alborida (Administrative Aide), Marvin M. Obando (Administrative Aide), and Porferio Y. Dumalag (Agricultural Technician).

University Researchers Claudette D. Oraye (20 years), Lavernee S. Gueco (25 years), Maria Luisa D. Guevarra (30 years), and administrative employees Rowena B. Frankie (30 years), Leila S. Caymo (35 years), and Joseph I. Bataller (40 years) were honored for their service and loyalty to IPB.

Administrative staff retirees – Rico C. Canilao, Dionisio C. Masa, Edgardo DL Reyes, Felicidad B. Punzalan, Lourdes O. Angeles, Gregorio DO de Ocampo, Elenita R. Castillo, Atanacio R. Lagman, and Eusebia J. Carandang – were also acknowledged.

IPB’s longtime collaborators were also recognized during the program: Central Mindanao State University (CMU) for the shared objective of combatting downy mildew in corn through resistant varieties; East West Seed Company (EWSC) for being the licensee of Sinta, the first Philippine-bred F1 IPB-developed hybrid papaya, making the variety available not only in the country but also in international markets such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India; Benguet State University (BSU), for the collaboration that led to the establishment of BSU-IPB Highland Crops Station, development of farmer-preferred potato and vegetable varieties registered with NSIC, and production of beneficial research outputs;

Barangay Burol Organic Agriculture Cooperative (BBOACo), for being a certified corn seed producer, making IPB-developed maize varieties accessible to the local market and consumers since 2018; the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) Region 2, for supporting IPB’s varietal testing and field trials in legumes and vegetables from the 1980s onward; and BM Domingo Seeds, for the shared commitment and outstanding contributions in advancing agricultural development.

Dr. Nenita B. Baldo, Associate Professor and Manager of Agricultural Experiment Center of CMU, reaffirmed the university's commitment, continued collaboration, and willingness to work alongside IPB toward the shared goal of advancing Philippine agriculture, particularly through innovations in crop improvement.

The IPB also conferred outstanding administrative personnel, research and extension personnel, and project teams who were behind the institute’s success.

Outstanding administrative personnel were Flora R. Cuevas (Bukod-Tangi Blue Collar, Regular Staff Category), Randy C. de Mesa (Bukod-Tangi Blue Collar, ICS/COS Category), May Ann B. Eljera (Bukod-Tangi Office Staff, ICS/COS Category), Rizalina L. Tiongco (Bukod-Tangi Technical Staff, Regular Staff Category), and Lourdes O. Angeles (Special Citation Award).

Hidelisa D. de Chavez, Gerlie P. Antesco, and Benjamine William P. Cordez were this year’s outstanding research personnel.

The Flowering Ornamental Plants Breeding Team emerged as the IPB Outstanding Research Project for their valuable work in plant breeding.

The IPB Extension Project Team on Public Information and Technology Awareness was awarded the IPB Outstanding Extension Project Award for fostering the dissemination of the significance of IPB-developed varieties and technologies.

Javier thanked people who made the IPB what it is today.

“Anniversary celebrations are meant to recall the glorious past, to remember and thank those who preceded us, and to congratulate ourselves in the present. But in addition, anniversaries are timely to find fresh meaning – the reasons for being, to seek new directions, and to strengthen our efforts to do much better for the future,” he said.

IPB is looking forward to stronger collaborations with partners and potential collaborators and will continue to serve its purpose for the greater good. (Dianne B. Ubaldo)