Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary, together with DOST Officials visited DOST project sites and research facilities at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) last February 16, 2023.
Dr. Solidum was joined by Undersecretary for Research and Development, Dr. Leah J. Buendia; Executive Director for PCAARRD, Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora; PCHRD, Dr. Jaime C. Montoya; PCIEERD, Dr. Enrico C. Paringit; NRCP, Dr. Bernardo N. Sepeda; DOST Director for Planning and Evaluation Services (PES), Director Cezar R. Pedraza; and Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga, Regional Director of DOST VI. Along with them were DOST representatives from the Central Office and Region VI.
The delegation visited the Regional Research Center (RRC) and they were welcomed by UPV Chancellor Dr. Clement C. Camposano; Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Philip Ian P. Padilla; Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, Dr. Harold M. Monteclaro; Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director, Dr. Reynold D. Tan; SOTECH Dean, Dr. Ramer P. Bautista; and RRC and Philippine Genome Center-Visayas (PGC-Visayas) Director, Dr. Victor Marco Emmanuel N. Ferriols.
Dr. Ferriols toured them around various research facilities of the RRC, particularly the Bioinformatics Laboratory, Philippine Genome Center Visayas (PGC-Visayas), and the Food, Feeds and Functional Nutrition Laboratory (FFFN Laboratory). Some of the research projects and outputs presented were the significant findings of PGC Visayas pertaining to COVID-19, research projects under the FFFN Laboratory headed by Dr. Jade G. Pahila which include “Post harvest processing of blood cockles/blood clams Tagillarca granosa” and “Production and evaluation of dried microalgal biomass”.
They also went to the Multi-Species Hatchery Complex, where they were welcomed by Dr. Rex Ferdinand T. Traifalgar, Director of the Institute of Aquaculture, Dr. Carmelo del Castillo, National Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) Director, together with the project leaders of current research projects housed in the hatchery. They also visited the Coastline 5023 Fisheries Technology Business Incubation (FTBI) Building, where they had a chance to meet and talk with the university’s business incubatees. Significant research milestones of the Niche Centers in the Region for Research and Development-Center for Mollusk Research and Development (NICER-CMRD) were also showcased and presented at the venue.
The visit was significant for the university to create stronger linkages with DOST to produce relevant research projects for the Filipino people.
