CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON THE UPLB-IPB ABACA HYBRID HELD AT PCAARRD
Date Posted February 2018
Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Acting Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), called the Consultative Meeting with PhilFIDA on 02 February 2018 primarily to present the abaca initiatives under the Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) for Abaca of DOST-PCAARRD. Dr. Antonio Lalusin, Project Leader of PCAARD funded-project entitled “Rehabilitation of Abaca Plantation through Adoption of High-Yielding and Virus-Resistant Abaca Hybrids” presented the status and accomplishments. Present also during the meeting were the study leaders from the different cooperating SUCs including Bicol University, Catanduanes State College, Visayas State University (VSU), Caraga State University, University of Southern Mindanao, University of Southeastern Philippines, and Western Mindanao State University.
The discussion mainly focused on the issues surrounding the quality of the fiber from the UPLB-IPB hybrid. Mr. Kennedy T. Costales, PhilFIDA Executive Director reiterated his call to stop the distribution of the said hybrid. He further mentioned that he is acknowledging the research endeavors of the scientists and even willing to promote the said hybrid after it has gone through a thorough evaluation and passed the acceptable fiber quality.As a response, Dr. Ebora agreed to revisit the MOAs signed by the project leaders and the cooperators and add more provisions to ensure that the abaca hybrids will strictly be in a contained trial. He also reiterated the Council’s support for research undertakings on abaca specifically on seeds and abaca genomics. A round-table discussion was scheduled on the 2nd week of March 2018 to conceptualize research plan for abaca.
In addition, Dr. Ebora instructed Dr. Lalusin to arrange a meeting with PhilFIDA-FUTD and PCAARRD on the standardization of protocol on data gathering of the field trial. It was scheduled on 28 February 2018.
The consultation was organized by the PCAARRD-CRD headed by Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio and Ms. Renelle C. Yebron, ISP Manager for Abaca.
Consultative meeting participants during the field visit at the project site of the UPLB-IPB abaca hybrid located at Tranca, Bay, Laguna
