OVPRE conducts 5th RDE review and consultation forum

The presenters were Dr. Pastor P. Garcia of the Ecological Farm and Resource Management Institute (Eco-FARMI); Dr. Julieta R. Roa of the Philippine Rootcrop Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops); Dr. Ruben M. Gapasin of the National Abaca Research Center (NARC); Dr. Eutiquio E. Sudaria of the National Coconut Research Center (NCRC-Visayas); and Dr. Rotacio S. Gravoso of the Commission on Higher Education Zonal Research Center (CHED-ZRC).

According to Prof. Rosa Ophelia D. Velarde, Coordinator of the Research and Development (R&D) Program of VSU, the annual activity was conducted to review the major accomplishments and targets of the university's Research and Extension programs. She added that the forum also served as a venue for consultation with the directors and the administrators on utilization of resources used in the operations and management of these programs. She reiterated that the University President, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, challenged the directors and researchers, not just to continue what they are currently doing but to surpass their accomplishments in the previous years.

It was learned that the University President, together with the VP for Research and Extension, and VP for Administration and Finance, stayed during the whole duration of the activity because the forum also served as a venue for RDE programs and resource utilization and management consultation with the administrators of the university. It was also attended by the Director for Administration and Human Resource Development, Director for Finance, the Budget Officer, Chief of the Accounting Office, Head of the Supply Office, and the team from the Commission on Audit (COA) to ensure that resource management related concerns and issues raised are answered and that necessary accounting and auditing rules and regulations are properly explained. The college deans and the staff of the different centers were also there to witness the presentations. Prof. Velarde also revealed that the 2nd phase of the activity is during the RDE In –House Review which is tentatively scheduled on February 6-10, 2012 where the different college deans and technical unit heads will present their respective RDE highlights of accomplishments in 2011 and plans for 2012. This will provide them ample time to prepare since most of them are still huddled with the submission of mid-term grades and the preparation for the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP).

Finally, Prof. Velarde said that only the major highlights of the centers' accomplishments and general plans for 2012 were presented during the said activity and that the review and evaluation of the different RDE projects/components will be conducted during the in- house review. "The final RDE plan and targets for the succeeding year will still be revised by the different center directors based on the comments and recommendation from the President and other reviewers, and for discussion with the respective staff", she ended.