Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) director Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril, assistant director Joell H. Lales, and Research Coordination Division head Dr. Anthony B. Obligado led the inauguration of the Multi-Purpose Research for Development (R4D) Center at the DA-Central Luzon Integrated Agricultural Research Center (CLIARC) for Upland Development in Sto. Niño, Magalang, Pampanga on 17 September 2021.
Funded under the bureau’s Research Facility Development Grant Program, the established R4D Center is geared towards increasing the production of upland crops in Central Luzon, hence, contributing to increasing the income of upland farmers.
Specifically, the said R4D center will provide venue for the efficient conduct of different researches on upland crops for tissue culture propagation; development of protocols for upland crops production through vine cutting technique as production guide for upland farmers; and production of upland crops seeds, cuttings, or tubers.
DA-BAR assistant director Lales, as he conveyed the message of director Dr. Mamaril, commended DA-Central Luzon and reiterated Secretary William Dar’s statement that “we need to build facilities that are made to last.”
“Facilities like this are not only made to last but underscoring as well the legacy. As there are people handling, managing, or doing the work will not last but the services of the facilities are meant to last. So, for the next generations to come, the services, the functions should continuously benefit our ultimate clientele,” assistant director Lales further said.
In response, DA-Central Luzon regional technical director Dr. Arthur D. Dayrit, research division chief Dr. Irene M. Adion, and CLIARC for Upland Development station manager Dr. Emily A. Soriano thanked DA-BAR’s support and hope that the new facility will provide a lot of services to the upland or rootcrop farmers and be used for breeding and formulating various upland crop production protocols.