The Valley Journal

11 state universities join leadership program for academic executives

13May

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

11 state universities join leadership program for academic executives

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LEADERS of 11 higher education institutions (HEIs) from the State Universities and Colleges-Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines (SUC-ACAP) have been undergoing an executive course to hone their skills. The leadership program is led by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) in collaboration with the Singapore-based The HEAD Foundation (THF). Dubbed “Up Your Game: Leadership Development Program for HEIs in the Philippines,” the executive course kicked off on April 21 and will run until June 7 this year. Participating in the said leadership course are 29 vice presidents, campus executive directors, college deans and other academic executives. The state universities are Cagayan ...

Ilocos university docu makes it to New York film fest

6May

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation

Ilocos university docu makes it to New York film fest

Mariano Marcos State University College of Arts and Sciences instructor Melver Ritz Gomez poses with the poster of his documentary film ‘Iyallatiw,’ which qualified as official entry to the International Film Festival Manhattan Virtual Events in New York City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO A documentary film produced by an Ilocos Norte university mentor qualified as an official entry to the International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) virtual events in New York City. Titled “Iyallatiw,” the Ilokano word for “to transfer,” the documentary film was produced by Melver Ritz Gomez, an instructor at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) College of Arts and Sciences. In his film, Gomez featured an old oral tradition on prayers for the dead. “This documentary picture...

La Union State U co-investigates remaining forests in SEA

29Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation

La Union State U co-investigates remaining forests in SEA

DMMMSU-North La Union campus. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO SAN FERNANDO CITY (April 29)—La Union province-based Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) has joined research institutes and universities here and abroad to address the intensifying challenges of global environment, sustainability and biodiversity conservation as well as the monitoring of the world’s remaining forests. A co-investigator in this Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) environmental research, Prof. Lilito Gavina of DMMMSU College of Agroforestry and Forestry, said the university has collaborated in the investigation particularly focusing on the forests in Southeast Asia. DMMMSU collaborators were the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), the Institute for...

NGCP holds virtual blackout simulation drill

28Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, Technology

NGCP holds virtual blackout simulation drill

THE VALLEY JOURNAL TO ensure stable and reliable transmission services in the event of a major power disturbance or emergency, NGCP recently conducted its annual blackout simulation drill. As it did last year, the event was organized in a virtual setting as the grid operator fulfils its commitments amidst the social distancing protocols brought about by the current coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. NGCP’s System Operations personnel headed the annual exercise comprised of tabletop presentations and actual blackout simulation drills. Representatives from power generation companies, distribution utilities, and government agencies such as the Department of Energy, National Electrification Administration, and National Transmission Corporation participated in the virtual ...

US Army conduct bilateral training with Philippine Army in NEcija

27Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation

US Army conduct bilateral training with Philippine Army in NEcija

A 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade Soldier from Maneuver Advisor Team 5123 provides instruction and shares best practices on Close Quarter Combat with 1st Brigade Combat Team, Philippine Army, April 2021. The 5th SFAB’s continuous engagements in the Philippines and locations across the Indo-Pacific bolster trust and build upon long-standing partnerships while increasing training readiness. US EMBASSY PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO CABANATUAN CITY (April 27)—Nueva Ecija-based Philippine Army’s (PA) Fort Magsaysay will host United States (US) soldiers from the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade (5th SFAB) in bilateral training events taking place starting this month until June this year. According to the US Embassy, the 5th SFAB arrived in the Philippines last month to conduct...

Searca, Jollibee Foundation team up to boost local onion production

24Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca, Jollibee Foundation team up to boost local onion production

Forging partnerships for community resilience and self-reliance has been the fulcrum of both #SEARCA and the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) in navigating the new normal. BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO UNIVERSITY of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) and Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) have teamed up to help boost the production of onion, one of the country’s high-value crops. JGF Executive Director Ma. Gisela Tiongson said farmers need partners who can provide them with access to information and technology to help them improve their productivity, increase the value of their produce, and in the process, build their agro-enterprises. “I believe Searca’s experience and expertise in education, trai...

24Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

P5-B farm aids up for distribution

MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija (April 24)—The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) here is set to distribute a P5 billion worth of farm machinery under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund mechanization program of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The DA said the 5,098 farm machinery consists of 2,574 pieces of farm machines for land preparation like four-wheel tractors and one-hand tractors and attachments like tillers totaling P1.7 billion. It said another 496 farm machinery will be for crop establishment like transplanters and seeders worth P500 million and 2,028 for post-harvest equipment mechanical harvesters, thrashers and milling machines worth P2.8 billion. For 2019 and 2020, there were nearly 680,000 farmer beneficiaries who have benefite...

Searca, IIRR partner for rural, agri initiatives

17Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca, IIRR partner for rural, agri initiatives

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) has forged an agreement with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) as part of its advocacy to champion excellence in agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia. Glenn Gregorio, Searca director, said a memorandum of understating (MoU) was formally signed between Searca and IIRR represented by Emilita Monville-Oro, IIRR acting regional director for Asia and concurrent country director for the Philippines, in a virtual meeting last April 6. IIRR is a nonprofit organization that has been helping to empower rural communities in Southeast Asia, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa. The signing was witnessed by Joselito Florendo, Searca deputy...

MMSU to offer masters in ecozone administration

17Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation

MMSU to offer masters in ecozone administration

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO A GRADUATE school degree course to develop industry-competitive and professional leaders will soon be offered at Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and other state universities and colleges (SUCs). Daniel Tapaoan Jr., MMSU assistant information officer, said the university is stepping up to offer Master in Economic Zone Administration (MEZA) this year. He said this development at MMSU is in collaboration with PEZA and its partner SUCs of which an initial planning and consultation workshop was already conducted in mid-March by the MMSU Special Economic Zone Institute (SEZI). According to Neilbert Gajudo, PEZA executive assistant, the consultation was participated by the SEZI representati...

Hedcor: Let Bakun plant continue operations

17Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, Technology

Hedcor: Let Bakun plant continue operations

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO Hedcor Inc., a leading run-of-river hydropower company in the Philippines, has appealed to a tribe group in Bakun town in Benguet to support the company in processing their certification precondition for the renewal of the operation of power plants in their locality. In a statement, Hedcor said it would like to continue to be Bakun’s partner for progress over the long term and appealed to Bakun Indigenous Tribe Organization (BITO) leaders for support so it can commence the benefit-sharing as stipulated in its memorandum of agreement (MoA). Hedcor noted it has been in the community for 30 years and was saddened by the turn of events when BITO issued a resolution of nonconsent to operate for their plants in Bakun town. The company explained it went through ...