BSU gets P38M fund grants for research, dev’t projects

By Jennyline S. Tabangcura

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet-- Benguet State University research and development project proposals have recently been approved with fund grants from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Agriculture (DA).

The Cordillera Organic Agriculture Development Center (COADC), the youngest of the seven research centers/institutes of the University, which was established in 2010, received a grant of P20 million from the DA. With the grant released in June of this year, COADC aims to promote organic agriculture education, research, and extension in the Cordillera Region.    

BSU as the host of the CHED-Higher Education Regional Research Center (HERRC) in Cordillera Administrative Region has initial funding of P4 million, which shall be released in tranches.

Three approved proposals from BSU will be put under HERRC once it is established.  One of these proposals is the “Local Antisera Production for Seeds and Planting Materials Certification of Selected High Value Crops in the Cordillera,” with a funding of P14 million.

The project aims to bring about livelihood, food sufficiency, poverty alleviation, and environmental conservation in the Cordilleras especially on strawberry, mushrooms, potato, other highland vegetables, root crops, coffee, flowers, banana, and ginger. 

This aim shall be achieved through the production of seeds and/or planting materials of 20 crops certified against 27 important viruses, one viroid, and two bacteria totaling to 30 diseases. In addition to these diseases, other important diseases caused by fungi and nematodes that can be easily diagnosed through symptoms will likewise be considered in the process of certification.

Another approved project with a P17 million funding is the “Establishment of Regional Laboratory Facilities for the Enhancement of Curricular Programs, Research, and Livelihood Opportunities in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

There are three projects under this program: 1) the “Regional Tissue Culture Laboratory Facility Upgrading Project for Students and Entrepreneurs Specialized Training Towards Agri-Industry Development”; 2) “Establishment of Laboratory Facilities for Materials and Machine Testing, and Metal works”; and “Upgrading of the Analytical Service Laboratory Center”.  The grant came about as BSU was identified as one of the 17 leading SUCs in the country. 

Earlier this year, in a consultation forum with the university’s research sector, BSU president, Dr. Ben D. Ladilad encouraged the packaging of viable research and development proposals that document pressing needs of the country in general and of the region, in particular.

“Let us use of these (fund grants) wisely and efficiently, and make sure to produce quality output from our projects,” he said.