The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) facilitated a special advisory board (AdBoard) meeting held at the Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Bukidnon last May 26.

The objectives of the meeting were to discuss the (1) position of the nine host state universities and colleges (SUCs) of DA-PCC regional centers in relation to the filing of Senate Bill 139, also known as the Philippine Livestock Industry Development Act of 2019, which aims to restructure and rationalize the livestock industry in order to strengthen its development, protection, and regulatory functions, including the promotion of dairy and native animals and to provide for a livestock development fund and for other purposes; and (2) policy of co-implementation of researches by the SUCs and the DA-PCC. The main goal is to develop the livestock sector continually by maintaining the existing partnerships of DA-PCC and the SUCs.

The SUCs who are affected by the said bill are the Cagayan State University (CSU) in Cagayan, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Ilocos Norte; Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in La Union, Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Nueva Ecija; University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in Laguna; West Visayas State University (WVSU) in Iloilo; Visayas State University (VSU) in Leyte; University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in North Cotabato; and CMU. The remaining DA-PCC regional centers are hosted by DA stock farms or offices, which include the Ubay Stock Farm (USF) in Bohol, La Carlota Stock Farm (LCSF) in Negros Occidental, and Mindanao Livestock Production Center (MLPC) in Zamboanga Del Norte.

Based on the discussion, the AdBoard members agreed to adopt the following recommendations from the CLSU who drafted the proposed position paper on behalf of the SUCs: (1) allocation of 5% of the competitiveness fund for livestock, poultry, and dairy research with priority on the SUCs with DA affiliation/partnership; (2) allocation of 5% of the competitiveness fund for the scholarship and human resource development grants; (3) inclusion of host SUCs to the AdBoard; (4) continuation of the partnership and collaboration in the implementation of research, instruction, production, development, and extension programs; (5) allocation of 5% of the competitiveness fund to support the training of students and upgrading of internal capabilities (human resource and facilities); (6) inclusion of a specific provision on the use of the real properties of host SUCs; and (7) increase in the budget allocation for research on top of the agency's budget from 5% to 7%.

These were approved along with the comments and suggestions that need to be incorporated in the final position paper of SUCs. These include the creation of the final version of the paper where the SUCs can be clearly seen in the SB139, aligning the position paper with the contents of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 and the Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court Ruling, subjecting this position paper to a legal advisory, securement of an endorsement from the Commission on Higher Education, among others.

The AdBoard members also discussed the policy of co-implementation of research by the SUCs and the DA-PCC through the presentation of DA-PCC Research and Development Division Chief Marvin Villanueva. Assistant Secretary for Livestock Reildrin Morales, who presided the AdBoard meeting, suggested that the collaborations of the SUCs and the DA-PCC must also include extension activities, which should be highlighted in the finalization of the SUCs' position paper.

Dr. Villanueva, on the other hand, encouraged all the participants coming from SUCs to provide inputs regarding its research capabilities to allow DA-PCC to understand better how to support or complement such.

The AdBoard members include the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture or his representative as Chairman; Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD); Chancellor of UPLB; Presidents of MMSU, DMMMSU, CSU, CLSU, CMU, VSU, WVSU, and USM; Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI); Executive Director of DA-PCC; and Farmer-representatives to be appointed by the Board.

In attendance were Assistant Secretary for Livestock and BAI OIC-Director Dr. Reildrin Morales, Mr. Jeff Antonio, CSU Vice President for Research and Development Dr. Junel Guzman, DMMMSU North La Union Campus Chancellor Dr. Junifer Rey Tabafunda, WVSU Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training Dr. Greta Gabinete, MMSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Prima Fe Franco, Dr. Nathaniel C. Bantayan, Vice President for Research and Extension Dr. Armando Espino Jr., Dr. Feliciano G. Calora Jr. , CMU President Dr. Jesus Antonio Derije, DA-PCC OIC-Executive Director Dr. Ronnie D. Domingo, DA-PCC Deputy Executive Director for Production and Research Dr. Claro N. Mingala, DA-PCC Deputy Executive Director for Administration and Finance Dr. Caro B. Salces, Board Secretariat and DA-PCC's Planning and Information Management Division (PIMD) OIC Mr. Alvin V. David, DA-PCC Admin and Finance Division OIC Ms. Aimee T. Fulgencio, DA-PCC Research and Development OIC Dr. Marvin Villanueva, DA-PCC Knowledge Management Division Chief Dr. Eric Palacpac, DA-PCC at MMSU center director Ms. Grace Marjorie Recta, DA-PCC at CSU OIC Dr. Rovina R. Piñera, DA-PCC at DMMMSU center director Ms. Vilma Gagni, DA-PCC at CLSU center director Dr. Ericson N. Dela Cruz, DA-PCC at UPLB center director Dr. Thelma Saludes, DA-PCC at LCSF center director Ms. Eva Rom, DA-PCC at WVSU center director Mr. Arn Granada, DA-PCC at CMU center director Dr. Lowell C. Paraguas, DA-PCC at MLPC center director Dr. Cecelio Velez, DA-PCC at USM center director Mr. Benjamin John Basilio, and some of the staff members of DA-PCC National Headquarters composed of Chrissalyn Marcelo, Judy Ann Dela Cruz, Catherine Licudo, Paulyn Grace Saturno, and Raymark Paul Rigor.