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Regional soil, plant and water lab opens at Benguet State U
Tuesday, July 30, 2019 12:37 AM Views : 1173Carlito C. DarScience for the People. Cordillera Soil, Plant and Water Laboratory stakeholders during the unveiling of the facility marker. (from left to right) DOST - CAR RD Dr. Nancy Bantog, DOST - PCAARRD Acting Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora, DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña, BSU President Feliciano Calora Jr., BSU VP for R&E Dr. Carlito Laurean, PCAARRD Agri Resources Management and Research Division Director Juanito Batalon and La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda. (CCD/PIA CAR)
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, July 29 (PIA) - - The Cordillera Soil, Plant and Water Laboratory opened at the Benguet State University(BSU) to provide quality services for soil, water and plant analyses, and science and technology (S&T) interventions to support agricultural productivity relative to the improvement of soil health and water availability in the region.
The facility will primarily benefit the region’s state universities and colleges, graduate students, farmers, farmer’s cooperative and line agencies in terms of science and technology, innovation and research and development (R & D).
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña, DOST - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) Acting Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora and BSU President Dr. Feliciano Calora Jr. led the ceremonial unknotting of the ribbon and unveiling of the laboratory and Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management markers, Friday (July 26).
Dela Peña, in his keynote message, expressed DOST’s gratitude to BSU and PCAARD for their initiative as the Regional Soil, Plant and Water Laboratory will play an important role in improving the productivity of the agriculture sector and in the capacity building of SUCs and students through the promotion of S&T, innovation and R&Ds.
The facility can also be helpful to DOST’s initiative on disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation with its research and development component/capability.
“Now you have a regional facility for modern soil, plant and water analysis within your reach, which aside from improving agricultural productivity can also be an instrument that will help you care for your eco –system,” Dela Peña said.
DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña, in a press conference, highlights the importance of the regional Soil, Plant and Water Facility, not only in improving agricultural productivity but also in protecting the eco - system, as well as in producing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation - related research and development. (CCD/PIA CAR)
The BSU and DOST – PCARRRD have upgraded the former BSU Soils Laboratory into a regional facility, which outputs include laboratory services for the analysis of up to 5,000 soil samples; 1,000 plant samples, and 500 irrigation water samples per year.
The project proponent’s partnership also include capacity building on soil, plant and water collection and interpretation and training on basic and specialized equipment operation and maintenance as well as production of high impact R&D undertakings.
Operations of the regional laboratory will be under the supervision of Dr. Carlito Laurean, BSU Vice President for Research and Extension and Director of the Cordillera Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development.
DOST – Cordillera Regional Director Nancy Bantog assured continuing collaboration with BSU, its strong partner in R&D promotion in the region. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR with Charisse Miranda/UC Intern)