BCAARRD announces winners for first virtual RSRDH
Bicol Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (BCAARRD) reveals the winners for the 2021 Regional Symposium on Research and Development Highlights (RSRDH) after the two-day symposium held on February 8 and 9, 2021.
First place was awarded to Diomerl Edward B. Baldo and Ronnel A. Dioneda, Jr. from Partido State University (ParSU) with their paper entitled “Evaluation of Anticancer Properties of Alpinia galanga (Zingiberaceae) Ethanolic Extract.”
While second place was awarded to Keith Marlon R. Tabal from Camarines Sur Polytechnic College (CSPC) with his paper on “Nitrogen Deficiency Level Assessment Device for Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Maize (Zea mays L.) Using Nearest Neighbor Algorithm and Spectrophotometry,” and third place to Ricky P. Laureta, Ermar B. De La Cruz, and Ric Ryan H. Regalado from ParSU with their paper on “Climate vulnerability scenario of the agri-fishery communities in the Bicol River Basin, Philippines.”
The winners received certification and cash incentive while the first placer will be endorsed by the Consortium to vie for the National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD) Best R&D Paper Award wherein competing papers will be coming from all other consortia
This year’s RSRDH is a two-day endeavor featuring the various competing R&D papers in Aquatic, Agriculture and Natural Resources (AANR) of the different implementing member agencies of BCAARRD that was held at the (HERRC) Amphitheater.
The vying papers were from Bicol University (BU) with seven submitted papers, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) with five, Camarines Sur Polytechnic College (CSPC) with one, Partido State University (ParSU) with nine, and Sorsogon State College (SSC) with one. All papers endorsed from the said institutions total to 23 and all were considered at the Research Category.
Dr. Marissa N. Estrella, BCAARRD’s Director, delivered the welcoming remarks to all the participants while the Consortium’s Deputy Director, Dr. Sevella G. Tabayag-Almorfe introduced the panel of evaluators. Moreover, Prof. Ronnel R. Dioneda, Sr., Regional Research and Development Cluster Coordinator, presented the Objectives and Mechanics of the Symposium as well as the rules.
The Regional Research and Development Coordinating Council (RRDCC) Chairperson and BU President Arnulfo M. Mascariñas gave a message. Dr. Mascariñas stated that it is easy to feel demotivated and succumb to fear and paralyzing uncertainty which can hinder our productivity because of the disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also stated that in the academe, this lack of motivation to engage in productive work along research and extension can also spread like a virus infecting anyone particularly the vulnerable.
“Truth be told, it is hard to stay motivated in the face of uncertainty. This is why I commend everyone here today for your commitment and passion to carrying out our mandate along research amid the covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
The Master of Ceremonies was headed by Prof. Edgardo Besmonte along with Mr. Joseph Martin Paet as the Moderator.
The closing remark was delivered by the Techno-Transfer Cluster Coordinator of BCAARRD, Dr. Lester Narvaez. He commended the BCAARRD secretariat for a job well done. He also commented that this is the first time the Consortium is having the RSRDH on an online platform because of the unprecedented occurrence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Nevertheless, despite the technical glitches, we can say that this has been a successful undertaking,” Dr. Narvaez said. (Julianne Nicolle G. Moral, SRA, BCAARRD)