ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 24, 2009) - The Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) on Tuesday said it is vigorously pursuing an agriculture project with other stakeholders in an effort to sustain for security in Zamboanga Peninsula.
It said the project, dubbed “Enhancing the Demand for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Graduates Through Science and Technology,” has three phases –the Baseline Survey of Zamboanga Peninsula Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources (AFNR) Graduates; the Institutional Capability Enhancement; and the Support to Income Generating Projects and Diploma in Agriculture Technology – Bachelor of Education (DATBED).
Dr Grace Rebollos, WMSU President, said the project being implemented thru the College of Agriculture (CA) under Dean Teresita Narvaez, is in collaboration with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources and Development, the Department of Science and Technology (PCARRD-DOST); the Western Mindanao Agricultural Resource and Research Development Council (WESMARRDEC); and three other state colleges and universities (SUCs) in Western Mindanao.
WMSU was one of the four short-listed SUCs from a long list of over a hundred SUCs which vied for funding by the PCARRD-DOST last year, according to Dr Albert Aquino, Director for the Socio-Economic Research Development of the PCARRD-DOST.
Aquino said that in granting the funding to Western Mindanao SUCs with WMSU as the lead institution, PCARRD is optimistic in the competence and track record of the university’s project management.
He also praised a group of WMSU experts headed by Dr Teresita Narvaez, Dean, CA; Dr Chona Sarmiento, Dean, Research Development and Evaluation Center; and Dr Frede Moreno, Director, Policy Planning and Budget Office, who wrote the project proposal.
Other SUCs that are collaborating in the project are WMSU Dumingag; Jose Rizal Memorial State College (JRMSC) in Dapitan City; JRMSC in Tampilisan town in Zamboanga del Norte province and the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) in Zamboanga City.
The WESMARRDEC, through Dr Emilie Enriquez, the Consortium Director, was tasked to help monitor the progress of the project.
Representatives from WMSU and PCARRD-DOST held an inception meeting in Zamboanga City recently for the second and third phases of the project.
The PCARRD-DOST, led by Aquino, was impressed at the readiness of the university for the project after his team made an evaluation visit of the WMSU-College of Agriculture facilities in San Ramon campus.
Aquino was joined by teammates Dr Melvin Carlos, Project Manager for AFNR Programs 2 and 3; Tomas Cabagay, Assistant Project Manager; and Richard Caite.
Zamboanga Peninsula is composed of Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte provinces. (Evelyn Luceño)
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