The Bicol Consortium Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (BCAARRD) conducted the second Regional Research and Development Coordinating Council (RRDCC) Meeting for CY 2020 virtually for the first time.

          To abide by the AITF protocols, the said meeting was organized online because of the new normal COVID-19 poses and was conducted last 17 December 2020. It was originally scheduled last 11 December 2020 but due to the several super typhoons that hit the Bicol Region at the end of the year, it was moved on a later date.

          The municipality of Guinobatan was hit quite drastically by the super typhoons and the BCAARRD office was no exception. Flood water devastated the office and destroyed several important documents. Regardless, the 2^nd RRDCC Meeting was pushed through because important matters needed to be discussed.

          One of the Highlights of the meeting was the election of the Vice Chairperson for RRDCC. Dr. Alberto N. Naperi, President of the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, was elected for the said position.

          Moreover, on the addition of the Executive Board of BCAARRD, the Department of Science and Technology V (DOST V) was included as a member.

Reports were also presented during the RRDCC Meeting regarding the Status of RDE initiatives in the Bicol Region, the Newly approved projects, the Updates on the publication incentive grant and the Liquidation of unliquidated fund transfers. Moreover, the Work and Financial Plan for the CY 2021 was discussed.

The contributions of the Consortium Member Institutions (CMIs) for the CY 2020 were also reported and the approval of the proposed Line-Item Budget (LIB) was presented.

To strengthen the linkages with the host university of BCAARRD and with the CMIs, a new Memorandum of Commitment was discussed. The said memorandum was sent by the --- (PCAARRD) and it to be signed by the host agency, Bicol University (BU,) and the CMIs.

          The participants for the meeting were also invited to the Online Technology Dissemination of BCAARRD. Furthermore, the schedule of the postponed Regional Symposium on Research and Development Highlights (RSRDH) was also agreed upon.

          The said symposium was conducted last 8-9 February 2021 also virtually at the HERRC Amphitheater, Bicol University (BU) East Campus, Legazpi City.

          The 2^nd RRDCC Meeting was headed by the RRDCC Chairperson and BU President Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas along with the various representatives of BCAARRD's CMIs. Dr. Marissa N. Estrella, BCAARRD Director, and Dr. Sevella T. Almorfe, BCAARRD Deputy Director also attended the meeting with the BCAARRD Secretariat and the Cluster Coordinators of the Consortium; Dr. Lester M. Narvaez – Techno-Transfer Coordinator; Prof. Ronnel R. Dioneda, Sr. – R&D Coordinator and; Prof. Ma. Louisa U. Tango – Knowledge Management Coordinator.

     Despite the difficulties the pandemic poses, BCAARRD still strives to deliver exemplary results and to institutionalize and promote integrated S&T supportive to the regional and national development.  (Julianne Nicolle G. Moral, SRA, BCAARRD)