On October 1, 2024, the UPLB-BIOMECH team, led by Engr. Ronel S. Pangan, BIOMECH Director and Compendium Project Leader, visited the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. The team included Engr. Ezra Ryza R. Noel, Engr. Yara Ayman A. El Adawi, and Engr. John Paul G. Tobias, Project Technical Assistants of the Compendium Project. The purpose of the visit was to follow up on the requested data of the Compendium Project (Compendium of Developed Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization in the Philippines), funded by DOST-PCAARRD.
PhilRice, a government-owned corporation, is mandated to develop high-yielding, cost-efficient technologies to ensure the country’s rice production sufficiency. Its innovations encompass the entire rice production process, from land preparation to postharvest stages, playing a vital role in enhancing national food security. Representing PhilRice were Engr. Joel A. Ramos, Engr. Joey P. Manio, and Engr. Rachelle Marie Martin.
PHilMech, on the other hand, is responsible for generating, promoting, and commercializing innovative, problem-solving technologies, practices, and systems in the areas of postharvest and mechanization for agriculture and fisheries. Many of these innovations have been successfully adopted by farmers, significantly improving farming operations and practices across the country. Representing PHilMech were Ms. Ruth Angeles, Engr. Paulo Bernardo, Ms. Hilda G. Tomas, Mr. Louie A. Gonzales, and Jam G. Ismael.
As the Chair of the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Research, Development, and Extension Network (AFMechRDEN), with BIOMECH as the Co-chair, PHilMech also discussed preparations for the upcoming AFMechRDEN Conference. In addition, the team reviewed the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Research, Development, and Extension Database and Information System (AFMechRDE DIS). Ms. Angeles and Engr. Bernardo also provided updates on key logistics for the upcoming AFMechRDEN Conference on November 6-8 2024, covering publication materials, venue, and budget. Additionally, Mr. Gonzales and Mr. Ismael presented an updated and enhanced version of the AFMechRDE DIS.
During the visit, Engr. Pangan reintroduced and discussed the Compendium Project, a comprehensive catalog of agricultural and fisheries technologies developed in the Philippines. This compendium is aimed at promoting these technologies to a wider audience, facilitating their adoption and application in the agricultural sector.
To know more information about the project, visit https://biomech.ceat.uplb.edu.ph/news/uplb-biomech-with-dost-pcaarrd-jumpstarts-compendium-of-developed-agri-fisheries-mechanization-technologies-in-the-philippines-project/ .
John Paul G. Tobias