August 24, 2022
DOST USec for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, the concurrent OIC- Regional Director of DOST 10 visited the Central Mindanao University on August 24, 2022. The USec, along with his R&D Team was warmly welcomed by Dr. Emmanuel P. Leaño, the NOMCAARRD Director, Dr. Jose Alexander C. Abella, the VP for Academic Affairs and at the same time the OIC to the President, and other key officials of the university.
The objectives of the visit were to conduct a courtesy call to the CMU administration, to visit the NICER Project “Establishing the Philippine Research Center for Bamboo and to be updated of the program implementation of other DOST funded projects in the university.
Briefly, USec Mabborang expressed his intent by saying that “We would like to see the situation on the ground, we’d like to find out what they are doing in the areas of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) and I’d also like to find out their relevance in the Regional Development Agenda (RDA) as well as to the National Development Agenda (NDA)”.
He further said that the visit aimed at assessing the implemented projects and determine areas for improvement and upgrading. Most importantly, he wished that his visit can inspire, motivate and empower the people, particularly researchers from Mindanao.
The event which was held at UH Board Room commenced with a consultation meeting and pre-assessment of proposals; namely, the PTRI-NOMCAARRD R&D Center on Natural Textile Materials and the Philippine Research Center for the Large Ruminant Infectious Disease under Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER). USec Mabborang provides the team with strategies on how to expedite the approval of the aforesaid proposals.
Following the consultation meeting was a visit to the Food Research and Development Center. The Center Chief, Dr. Queenie Ann L. Curayag welcomed the team and showcased the center’s facilities and equipment. USec Mabborang commended the remarkable set up of the center and advised Dr. Curayag to prepare another proposal to further improve the center’s facilities and heighten its services to the people.
Dr. Reggie Y. Dela Cruz, the lead-researcher of the Tuklas-Lunas (Annex) also had an exploratory talk with USec Mabborang who recommended benchmarking and exploratory visit to other countries in order to design research proposals related to medicine.
Adjacent to the Tuklas-Lunas Center is the Bamboo NICER Center whose program leader, Dr. Lowell G. Aribal, and Dr. Jupiter V. Casas, the Project Leader, had a productive discussion with USec Mabborang. They discussed the future of Bamboo research in Mindanao and explored other concepts to be integrated into the said research and development for Region 10.
USec Mabborang commended the researchers for their expertise. He said “Napakagaling ng Taga-Mindanao” (The Mindanaoans are performing well). With this, he promised to lobby for more funds for the region which needs support as he believes that “Development process should start in the countryside and that no one should be left behind”.
“Continue doing research,” he also encouraged his fellow researchers. In addition, he emphasized the need to shift the paradigm of R&D so that it would “become industry- and demand-driven to ultimately help the communities in their respective regions.
His wife, Ms. Victoria B. Mabborang, Dr. Sammy P. Malawan, the DOST XII Regional Director, Mr. Virgilio M. Fuertes, the DOST Provincial Director of Lanao del Norte, and his assistants: Mr. Rommel P. Simsel, SRSS II, and Villamor P. Quilang, SRS II were together with him during the said visit. (Hiedy S. Cañete)
