Research council honors top scientists

Outstanding research and development (R&D) administrators, researchers, and academic and R&D institutions have won prestigious awards conferred for 2003 by a Los Baños-based research council.

The awardees received cash prizes and plaques at a recent program at the Manila Hotel marking the 31st anniversary celebration of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippines Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCARRD).

Their awards were presented by DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro, PCARRD Executive Director Patricio S. Faylon, and Australian ambassador to the Philippines Ruth Pearce, the affair’s guest speaker.

Winners of the top individual awards were Dr. William C. Medrano, director of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), and Gerardo Santos of the Philippines Coconut Authority (PCA).

Dr. Medrano received the "Pantas" (Sage) award (Most Outstanding Research Administrator) while Santos was conferred the Pantas’ Most Outstanding Research Scientist plum.

Dr. Medrano, former director of the Cagayan Valley Agriculture and Research and Development (CVARRD) consortium and vice president of the Isabela State University (ISU), was cited for "his strong and effective stewardship of the research management and technology transfer activities in Cagayan Valley," which enabled CVARRD to win the PCARRD "Ugnay" (Most Outstanding Regional R&D Consortium) award four times.

Santos was cited for his "outstanding contributions to coconut crop improvement through breeding and selection." He has pioneered the development of the world’s first synthetic variety, SynVar, aimed at making available to resource-poor farmers inexpensive seednuts toward empowering them to produce their own seeds.

The Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, headed by Dr. Rodolfo Undan, president, garnered the "Tanglaw" (Light) award (Most Outstanding Research Institutions) "for its pioneering work in agriculture and natural resources R&D which generated major breakthroughs and innovations on carabao, goat, vegetables and legumes, among others."

Winner of this year’s "Ugnay" award was the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Program (VICARP) based in the Leyte State University (LSU) in Baybay, Leyte.

VICARP was recognized for "its effective and exemplary R&D management and technology promotion and dissemination in Region 8. "It has forged strong functional linkage with local government units that led to remarkable advancement in technology promotion, dissemination, and adoption."

LSU president Paciencia Po-Milan and VICARP director Jose Bacusmo received the award.

Other winners were:

• Dr. Teresita Espino, J. Reyes, F. Tambalo, and E. F. Mercado, all of UP Los Baños Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, first prize, National Research Paper Award in Agriculture and Natural Resources.

• Juliet Ochasan, A. Cimafranca, N. Aspuria, and N. Pedroche, all of the Bureau of Plant Industry-Baguio National Crop Research and Development Center, First prize, National Development Paper Award in Agriculture and Natural Resources.

• Roberto Domoguen, Highland Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, Professional Media Award (print category).

• Gelly Maypa, program host, "Farm Watch" Region 6, Professional Media Award (broadcast category).