The Department of Agriculture spearheaded by Secretary William Dar together with the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines Ambassador Huang Xilian, inaugurated the new breeding laboratories and led the turnover ceremony on March 25, 2022, at the PhilSCAT Multi-Purpose Hall, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
PhilSCAT Director Marvin Cinense delivered his welcome remarks and signified that they would continue to promote advanced technologies in agriculture and hybrid rice production.”This day marks another milestone in the history of PhilSCAT as a vision in establishing a modern hybrid rice breeding station is now a reality.
Today, we shall witness the turnover of the facilities and equipment as the Technical Cooperation Program III is about to end,” Director Cinense added. These three laboratories of the Philippine – Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) aim to produce high-yielding and quality rice varieties by improving the country’s agricultural promotion, production, and research.
“China is ready to cooperate with the Philippines to promote the development of more than agricultural sciences and technology to make a great country’s solution to food security and improve our people’s living standards,” Ambassador Huang Xilian stated during his handing message. Furthermore, this collaboration includes a cold-water irrigation system and seed multiplication of the Thermogenic Male Sterile (TGMS) to develop TGMS-based or two-line hybrid rice.
Secretary Dar thanked and appreciated the contributions of the Chinese Embassy and PhilSCAT for their relentless efforts in helping and assisting the agriculture sector in the country.
“This PhilSCAT is a part of the legacy of friendship, cooperation, and collaboration. If you have to ask me whether we are interested in having a TCP IV, I will say we will strongly support TCP IV.
I hope I can pursue this before the end of my term,” Agri Chief said. He believed that the Technical Cooperation Program IV is important and must focus on smart agriculture and smart rice production. “We have to help the farmers and fishers improve their level of productivity in the various commodities and industries. We have agricultural technology as the engine of growth to transform Philippine Agriculture,” Secretary Dar said.
In 2000, the Chinese and Philippine governments established the PhilSCAT, which symbolizes their alliance and strengthens the partnership in achieving communication and technical cooperation in agriculture and other sectors. Officials present during the event were Daimei Wu, Co-Director of PhilSCAT; Dr. Edgar Orden, Central Luzon State University President; Noel Reyes, Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications and Department Spokesperson; Dr. William C. Medrano, Undersecretary for Livestock; Crispulo G. Bautista, Jr., DA Central Luzon Regional Executive Director; Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz, Jr., Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension and AMAD; and other officials
