The Center for Agri-Fisheries and Biosystems Mechanization (BIOMECH) received the 2024 Outstanding Research Team Award during the 112th CEAT Foundation Day celebration with the theme, “Championing Industry 5.0 through Adaptive Engineering”.
The Department of Agriculture – Bureau for Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (DA-BAFE) funded project which was implemented by UPLB-BIOMECH entitled “Roadmap to Transform the Philippine Agricultural Machinery and Manufacturing into a Competitive, Productive, Innovative, and Sustainable Industry,” has been chosen by the CEAT Awards Committee as the award recipient for its significant contribution to the agri-fishery machinery industry.
The groundbreaking project developed the Local Agri-Fisheries Machinery Assembly and Manufacturing in the Philippines (LAMMP) Industry Roadmap (2022-2036) aimed at strengthening collaboration among stakeholders in the industry, increasing the industry’s competitiveness, expanding domestic markets, and developing green, hybrid, and other technologies with a positive environmental impact. The roadmap was divided into a short-term goal (2022-2026), medium-term goal (2027-2031), and long-term goals (2032-2036).
Moreover, the project presented policy recommendations, strategies, and action plans that will improve the agri-fisheries machinery manufacturers’ situation and will guide the development of the local agri-fishery assembly and manufacturing industry in the Philippines.
Industry stakeholders for this project include the Department of Agriculture – BAFE, BAFS, PCAF, SRA, PCA, PhilMech, PhilRice; DOST-MIRDC, AMCen, AMERIAL; SUCs – UPLB BIOMECH, UPLB-AMTEC, CvSU-FS Team; Financial Institutions – LBP, DBP, BOI; Other government agencies – DTI, DOE, DBM; Private Organizations; Machinery Manufacturers, Fabricators, Assemblers, Distributors, Dealers, Importers, and Exporters; Enablers: Logistics Providers, After sales service providers, Human Resource Development Institutions; Custom Hiring Service Providers; Farmers Group Representatives; and other concerned institutions or stakeholders.
The UPLB-BIOMECH research team was led by Dr. Maria Victoria L. Larona as the Project Leader, along with Dr. Victor A. Rudolfo, Jr., Engr. Alexis C del Rosario, and Prof. Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero, Study Leaders; Dr. Rhea L. Gumasing, Project Consultant; Engr. Marck Ferdie V. Eusebio, Project Staff L1; Engr. Alfrederick D. Salandanan, Engr. Niña Mae G. Talaro, and Ms. Mary Grace O. Bautista, University Research Associates II; and Ms. Melea May M. Recipeda, Clerk II.
The project served as a concrete framework and feasible direction to achieve the goal of a competitive, sustainable, and resilient Philippine agri-fishery machinery assembly and manufacturing industry. It is a step towards the vision of accelerating agricultural and fishery mechanization in the country and eventually ventures into the international market through exports of Filipino-made machinery.
(Andrea Jo O. Coladilla)