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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider The Economy devider Department of Agriculture reinvigorates tissue culture lab in Clark Development Corp.

Department of Agriculture reinvigorates tissue culture lab in Clark Development Corp.

Published Dec 5, 2025 10:45 am
During the Kadiwa ng Pangulo launch last Dec. 1, 2025, the Department of Agriculture (DA) was given the keys to re-establish the tissue culture laboratory in Clark Development Corporation (CDC). Tissue culture process, otherwise known as micropropagation, is a controlled-environment process that uses plant material in growing media to grow new plantlets in quick succession. This process aims to increase yield while maintaining consistent quality in order to realize profit.
According to a private sector practitioner working with BPI, using high capacity tissue culture racks can theoretically increase the laboratory output by as high as 160%. High value crops such as bananas, sweet potato and ube are only some of the plant commodities to be produced from this facility.
The turnover was overseen by DA Secretary Francisco "Kiko" Tiu Laurel Jr., DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) Assistant Director, Ruel C. Gesmundo, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera, and CDC Board Chairman Atty. Edgardo Pamintuan Sr. The DA and CDC sees thus project as a potential boost to support the local production and supply the locators and employees of CDC that number in the hundred thousands. In addition to this, government officials and private sector partners also led the ceremonial planting of Guimaras Mango trees as part of the Mango Rejuvination Program through the efforts of the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).
The rejuvenation of the once productive mango trees in CDC spans 5 hectares within the Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ) and adjacent areas. This is seen to be an upscaling of the results of years of research and development in Mango Production led by the BPI-Guimaras National Crop Research, Development And Production Support Center (BPI-GNCRDPSC), known for its expertise in mango research and development. Aside from rehabilitating existing trees through the adoption of innovative crop management and production practices, integrated pest and disease management strategies shall be applied in order to support the DA and CDC’s Zero-Kilometer Food System. This is also seen to contribute to the upscaling of best practices to possibly support the DA’s export program.
All of these efforts align with President Bongbong Marcos, Jr. and DA Secretary Tiu-Laurel Jr.’s efforts to invest in climate-resilient agricultural technoligies and modernize the agriculture industry for years to come.
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