The Center for Agri-Fisheries and Biosystems Mechanization (BIOMECH), College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) conducted the Regional Forum on Strengthening the Academe-RDE and Local Agri-Fisheries Machinery Assembly and Manufacturing (LAMM) Industry Network in Region IV-A on November 15, 2024, at the Obdulia F. Sison Hall (OFSH), UPLB. The event was also part of the celebration of the institutionalization of BIOMECH as a Center during the 1312th meeting of the UP Board of Regents on October 29, 2015.
The forum generally aimed to provide the venue to strengthen Academe-RDE and Local Agri-Fisheries Machinery Assembly and Manufacturing Industry Network in Region IV-A, to come up with possible areas and strategies of collaboration among Government-Academe-RDE-Industry and initial plans for the LAMM Industry in Region IV-A.
BIOMECH convened representative participants from the government, academe, RDE, LAMM industry, and resource persons from key agencies and institutions involved in the LAMM Industry, to present and discuss, the updates, plans, incentives and support, status and needs, issues and challenges of the LAMM Industry. Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs For. Roberto P. Cereno, representing the UPLB Chancellor, Jose V. Camacho, Jr., welcomed the participants, while Dr. Butch G. Bataller, CEAT College Secretary gave the opening remarks and message on behalf of CEAT Dean Rex B. Demafelis. Their messages indicated the need for fostering stakeholders’ collaborations to promote mechanization for the agricultural sector in Region IV-A. Engr. Ronnie C. Valencia, BIOMECH Engineer II, acknowledged the forum guests, resource persons and participants. Engr. Mel Vincent A. Ampo, BIOMECH Engineer II, and Ms. Melea M. Recipeda, BIOMECH PAA IV, served as the forum Masters of Ceremony.
Dr. Ronel S. Pangan, BIOMECH Director, explained the forum rationale and role of BIOMECH-CEAT, UPLB in coordination with stakeholders to strengthen the LAMM Industry Network in Region IV-A. To achieve the forum objectives, a roster of distinguished resource speakers presented various topics for discussion. The speakers consisted of Engr. Mark Twain A. Limbo, DA-BAFE; Engr. Von Jansen G. Comedia, DOST-MIRDC; Engr. Jan-Jan J. Aguilar, RAED-RFO IV-A; Engr. Jocelyn A. Rioflorido, OPAg Quezon; Engr. Miguelito S. Diestro, LAMMA, Inc. and Diestro Engineering; Engr. Ida Allen Crisostomo, TTBDO, UPLB; Engr. Christian Jake S. Beltran, CIAMC; Mr. Reynaldo Lignes, DTI-BOI. A morning and afternoon fora were facilitated by Engr. Marife R. Santiago, BIOMECH Univ. Extension Specialist, to provide clarifications about the presentations.
Mr. Virgilio Lanzuela of Rollmaster Machinery and Industrial Services Corp., who delivered the Local Manufacturers Response, thanked BIOMECH for the well-packaged Regional Forum; for the various presentations, including that of Central Isabela Agri-Machinery Corporation as a good business model; and for the opportunity of sharing of experiences, problems and challenges faced by the industry. Dr. Maria Victoria L. Larona, BIOMECH University Researcher provided the synthesis and ways forward of the Forum. Director Pangan, in his closing remarks, thanked the participants, resource persons, BIOMECH organizing committee members, and expressed BIOMECH’s active role for the network. Generally, there was a consensus among the stakeholders to strengthen the government-academe-RDE and LAMM Industry Network. BIOMECH and the participants look forward to concretizing plans for the network and conducting the project on Strengthening the LAMM Industry Network in Region IVA.
(MVL Larona)