PCAARRD-Forestry and Environment Research Division

22/07/2026

𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐃 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: Terminal Review for the Smart Budwood Nursery and Greenhouse Project at University of Southern Mindanao

Terminal Review for the recently completed DOST PCAARRD-funded project entitled “𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘰 𝘉𝘶𝘥𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘕𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩-𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴,” was conducted at the University of Southern Mindanao on July 13-14, 2026.

DOST-PCAARRD, through the Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD), conducted a monitoring and evaluation activity to assess the project's implementation, validate its reported accomplishments, and visit the established smart facilities. The evaluators include Dr. Juanito T. Batalon (Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development), Dr. Dalisay E. Cabral (FERD Director) and other technical staff from FERD.

The project, under the leadership of Professor Emeritus Dr. Edward A. Barlaan, established the first smart cacao budwood nursery and greenhouse in the country, demonstrating the integration of smart technologies, such as renewable energy and precision agriculture, in cacao production. Equipped with solar power, automated irrigation and fertigation systems, IoT-enabled environmental monitoring, and digital management tools, the facilities generate real-time data that support more efficient nursery operations and informed crop management decisions.

The smart nursery currently maintains 623 molecularly verified and BPI-certified NSIC-recommended cacao varieties and promising clones that serve as valuable sources of scions for research and development and for the production of quality planting materials.

Following the completion of the project, USM plans to institutionalize the smart cacao budwood nursery as a permanent research, extension, and technology demonstration facility. Through these facilities, USM will continue producing quality planting materials for nurseries and cacao growers, monitor the distribution and utilization of project-developed technologies, and conduct capacity-building activities for nursery operators, students, and other stakeholders.

14/07/2026

The first smart cacao budwood nursery and greenhouse in the Philippines was established with the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) to strengthen the Council's support on the production of quality planting materials among cacao farmers.

The facilities include the following: an automated drip irrigation with monitoring system; greenhouse with weather, irrigation, and generator system; and solar-powered pump, irrigation system, and reservoir. A mobile application was also developed to remotely control environmental parameters in the facilities and maintain optimum conditions.
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/PCAARRDnews-cacao

07/07/2026

𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐃 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: 2nd Stock Assessment and Mapping Training-Workshop in the Visayas

The 2nd year of the 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨-𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 was held on June 29-July 2, 2026 at the Department of Education (DepEd) Ecotech Center, Cebu City and was participated in by researchers and environment personnel from Regions 6, 7, and 8.

The training aims to demonstrate and apply the standard and advanced protocols in measuring, monitoring, and mapping of ecosystem carbon stocks in mangrove and terrestrial ecosystems for researchers.

The training was funded by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST PCAARRD) and was conducted by the Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD) and Institution Development Division (IDD). This was also in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau-DENR (ERDB).

To better appreciate the concept of carbon stock assessment, a hands-on field demonstration was also held. The mangrove component was done at the Mangrove Propagation and Information Center (MPIC) in Cordova while the terrestrial part was held at the ERDB-CRERDEC experimental forest and clonal facility in Minglanilla.

There were 30 participants from 13 agencies and offices which include: Bohol Island State University (BISU), Cebu Technological University (CTU), Coastal Resources and Ecotourism Research, Development and Extension Center (ERDB-CREDEC), DENR Regional offices (VI, VII, and VII), DOST Region VII, Negros Oriental State University (NorSU), University of the Philippines - Tacloban, UP Visayas, University of San Carlos (USC), Visayas State University (VSU) and representatives from Carmen Copper Corporation (CCC).

26/06/2026

𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐃 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: Terminal Review of R&D project on 𝘗𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴 Leaf Fall Disease of with the DA-PRRI

The project terminal review of the DOST PCAARRD funded project: “Etiology, Detection and Management against 𝘗𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴 Disease in Rubber,” implemented by the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rubber Research Institute (DA-PRRI), was held last June 22-24, 2026.

This project deals with the emerging causing leaf fall disease of rubber by conducting preliminary studies on the epidemiology by determining the host range, pathogenicity, and the occurrence of disease complex involving major rubber leaf diseases and the 𝘗𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴. This provided intervention through the development of DNA-based detections and integrative management strategies to circumvent the possible outbreak of the disease in the country towards increased rubber quality and production.

DA-PRRI was led by its executive director and project leader, Dr. Cheryl L. Eusala and Dr. Jill D. Villanueva, project staff from Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST). The evaluators include Dr. Narceo B. Bajet, a DOST Balik Scientist, and Mr. John Benrich Zuniga, ISP Manager for Rubber from DOST-PCAARRD who represented Dr. Dalisay Cabral, FERD Director. Also present were DA-PRRI division chiefs: Dr. Girlie R. Saludo, Dr. Marry Joy P. Flores, and Dr. Glenn Y. Ilar.

The meeting discussed project accomplishments, implementation concerns, sustainability plans, and ways forward. Possible off-shoot R&D projects and other collaborative initiatives related to the project were also explored.

The project also won the top prize under the research category during the DOST-PCAARRD National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD) awarded last June 30, 2026.

26/06/2026

Narinig mo na ba ang kauna-unahang forest tree seed center sa bansa? 🌳

Tara na't bisitahin ang puso ng reforestation sa Mindanao at tuklasin ang GALING ng MFTSC!

Panoorin ang buong kwento, dito lang sa 🚙💨: https://youtu.be/eZ5uwdl9FLQ

12/06/2026

Watch the Lakbay Galing episode featuring the Mindanao Forest Tree Seed Center and Training Hub o MFTSC.

This initiative is implemented by the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau-DENR and funded by DOST PCAARRD.

Sagana sa magagandang tanawin at yamang dagat – hindi lang ‘yan ang...

12/06/2026

Pangunahing pinagkukunan ng kabuhayan ang ‘rubber farming’ ng mga magsasaka ng rubber, pati na rin ang mga ‘rubber tappers’ sa rehiyon ng Mindanao....

10/06/2026

Participants, resource speakers, and guest of the FluxTech Philippines Forum held on May 11, 2026 (Image credit: FERD, DOST-PCAARRD) The...

04/06/2026

DOST-PCAARRD and Cebu Technological University Project Team conducted the terminal review for the Anurans Project (Image credit: FERD,...

01/06/2026

𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐃 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: Inception meeting of new project in Batanes

DOST PCAARRD, through the Forestry and Environment Research Division, officially launched the newest project focusing on plant diversity in the Batanes Protected Landscape and Seascape through an inception meeting and site visit conducted last May 21-23, 2026.

The PCAARRD-funded project titled “𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘰” is set to be implemented for three years by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) under the leadership of Dr. Marjorie delos Angeles and in partnership with Batanes State College (BSC).

Going beyond documentation and taxonomic inventory, the project will also focus on an integrated ecological assessment to analyze the plants’ relationship with abiotic factors such as temperature, precipitation, soil pH, and nutrient availability. These significant data are expected to provide more insight on their species evolution, dispersal patterns, and historical connectivity as well as inform sustainable practices to protect Batanes’ forest ecosystems.

Leading the PCAARRD team was FERD Director Dr. Dalisay E. Cabral accompanied by S&T Program Manager for Biodiversity, Dr. Christine D. Santiago.

Inception meetings are held to ensure alignment on technical and administrative requirements among the implementing, monitoring, and funding agencies.