LOS BAÑOS, Laguna ,Philippines – Two government research agencies based here have been consolidated.
The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) has been formed out of the merger of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) and Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD). Both councils were under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, who served as executive director of PCARRD for the past more than a decade, is the head of the new PCAARRD.
The consolidation is stipulated in Executive Order 366 issued by President Aquino on Oct. 4, 2011. It aims to effect more efficiency in the delivery of R&D services in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector.
With PCAARRD, government research plans and programs in AANR will be given the much-needed boost with the complementation of the two former councils’ human and physical resources. Further, the consolidation is been to expand the coordination and linkages with local and international institutions.
PCARRD was established on Nov. 10, 1972, initially as Philippine Council for Agricultural Research (PCAR). Its mandate was to coordinate, evaluate, and monitor agriculture and natural resources research in the country.
On the other hand, the fisheries research division of PCAR eventually became another R&D council of DOST (Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development or PCAMRD) in 1987.
Until the consolidation headed by Executive Director (OI) Cesar Pagdilao, PCAMRD was DOST’s agency that coordinated, evaluated, and monitored aquatic and marine research in the country, particularly of the PCAMRD-coordinated National Aquatic and Resources Research and Development System (NARRDS) composed of about a hundred state colleges and universities (SCUs) and R&D agencies in the country. Pagdilao is now PCAARRD deputy executive director (for aquatic resources).
The merger of PCARRD and PCAMRD is part of DOST’s “3 after 3” approach, which means there would only be three councils in three years time, from the existing five councils, EO 366 stipulates.
First to be consolidated were the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD) and Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD). PCIERD and PCASTRD became Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).
Only the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) was retained.