25/08/2026
๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ: ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐-๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ
To address the surging market demand for Ube (purple yam), the Institute of Crop Science (ICropS), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), successfully hosted the "Training of Trainers: Ube Production to Product Development" from August 17โ19, 2026.
The three-day intensive program provided participants with a comprehensive foundation in Ube as a high-value crop. Key focus areas included:
โข ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐
๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ & ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Morpho-botanical characteristics, nursery management, field establishment, pest and disease management, and Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP).
โข ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ & ๐๐๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐: Postharvest handling, proper storage methods, commercial scaling, and innovative product development/value-adding techniques.
๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The event brought together key agriculture extension workers, researchers, and local producers. Attendees included representatives from DA-BPI centers across the country (Main Office, Baguio, Guimaras, La Granja, and Davao), the DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, and local government agricultural offices from Bontoc (Southern Leyte), Mansalay (Oriental Mindoro), Laguna, and Lopez (Quezon). Active industry farmers also joined the cohort to bridge research with field application.
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ
The training program featured notable leadership from academia and government:
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Vice Chancellor Dr. Harold Dean Z. Layaoen (representing Chancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr.) and College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) Dean Dr. Amado A. Angeles welcomed the attendees in person.
๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ: ICropS Director Dr. Tonette P. Laude, BPI Assistant Director for Regulatory Services and concurrent Chief of the NSQCS, Mr. Ruel C. Gesmundo, and DA Undersecretary-designate for High-Value Export Crops Philip C. Young delivered virtual messages for the trainees. Also, present during the event was the DA-BPI Director Dr. Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban, OIC Assistant Director for Research Development and Production Support Services and Concurrent Chief Geronima P. Eusebio, and Asther Paglinawan, assistant Division Chief of BPI Crop Research and Production Support Division.
Featuring a dynamic mix of expert lectures, practical hands-on exercises, and site visits facilitated by specialists from CAFS-UPLB, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and DA-BPI, the event successfully equipped trainers to drive the sustainable growth of the Philippine Ube industry.