WVSU is WESVARRDEC’s new home

By Deodith Grace Honrado-Baticbatic
RACG staff

“The Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) has a new home now. But it will be facing a lot of challenges ahead. However, all these challenges could be easily handled if all of us together will be working hand in hand through this challenging journey.  We have to work together after we have decided to continue and keep up the operation of our consortium.” This is according to Dr. Joel P. Limson, Regional Research Development Coordinating Council (RRDCC) Chair in his message during the turn-over ceremony of the WESVARRDEC’s base agency.

The turn-over ceremony was held on June 11, 2012 during the 2nd Quarter RRDCC Meeting at the Teleconference Room, Administration Building of West Visayas State University (WVSU) at La Paz, Iloilo City.

It was attended by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) representative, Dr. Elaine F. Lanting together with the presidents, directors and representatives of Partner Member Agencies (PMA).  Moreover, department heads, some faculty members and personnel of WVSU were also present.

The ceremony was highlighted with the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among PCAARRD, represented by Dr. Lanting, WESVARRDEC, represented by Dr. Limson, University of the Philippines-Visayas (UPV) as the previous base agency, represented by Dr. Ricardo Babaran and WVSU as the new base agency, represented by its president, Dr. Pablo E. Subong. Witnesses in the said signing of MOA were the outgoing consortium director Prof. Joseph Edward Idemne, the new consortium director, Dr. Noeni S. Nepomuceno, the RTG coordinator Dr. Reynaldo Dusaran, RACG coordinator Ms. Salvacion Villasis, RTWG coordinator Dr. Geronimo Gregorio and the Vice President for Research, Extension and Training of WVSU Dr. Ma. Lulu Loyola.

As stipulated in the MOA, through Resolution No. 8 during the 1st Quarter RRDCC Meeting on January 13, 2012, the RRDCC decided to transfer the base agency to WVSU as its new home after ten years at UPV.

Moreover, during the program, the former WESVARRDEC staff namely, Suzette Peñaredondo, Sheila Mae Tagaduar and Teresita Espinosa received plaques of appreciation for their commendable services rendered to the consortium led by Director Joseph Edward O. Idemne. The UPV, represented by Dr. Ricardo P. Babaran received a plaque of appreciation as the consortium’s base agency for ten years and for being a part of its achievements.

Dr. Neoni S. Nepomuceno, the new Consortium Director expressed his appreciation for choosing WVSU as WESVARRDEC’s new home.  He said that the consortium is facing not just only the transition, since the consortium transferred its base agency but also the transformation as part of PCAARRD’s rationalization process.