ABS-CBN, VSU partner to help rootcrop enterprises in Samar

The Philippine Rootcrops Research & Training Center (PRC-RTC) will implement the two-year project in Marabut, Samar to “promote sustainable and resilient enterprises” of rootcrops through responsive financial, technical and social services to farmers’ groups and people’s organizations. Bantay Kalikasan Program, the environment arm of Lingkod Kapamilya, funded the project.

The results of this project will serve as basis for the identification of specific needs, potential interventions, strategic programs, and value chain development. This would help not only the identified stakeholders but also other sectors in the community.

“We [at] Bantay Kalikasan, [are] very excited with this partnership with VSU because this is a way to really help communities. We’re working on the ground particularly with people’s organizations and we’re here to help them in the transformation of Samar Island,” said Democrito Figueroa of Bantay Kalikasan.

“We believe that through linkage we will be able to extend whatever expertise the university has, in terms of technical knowledge, experience and marketing. We would like to help our fellow Samareños who are just living a few hundred kilometres away from the university,” said university secretary Prof. Daniel Tudtud, who represented VSU President Edgardo E. Tulin during the MOA-signing event.

According to Figueroa, they found out that rootcrops are one of the most abundant resources in the area and have seen its potential in increasing the productivity and income of farmers.

Rootcrops play a very important role in food sufficiency and security. This is one of the best crops to address climate resiliency and has low production cost.

Tudtud emphasized that VSU, with its functions of research and extension, collaborates with partners in different fields of agriculture [rootcrops, vegetables, abaca] with the ultimate goal of helping the economy and the Filipino families. The academe, in general, opens up its facilities, expertise and faculties towards the attainment of food security in the country.

Prof. Tudtud and Dr. Erlinda Vasquez, Philrootcrops Director, signed for VSU in the MOA signing event with Lingkod Kapamilya at the Emiliana Bernardo Hall, VSU PhilRootcrops Training Research Center on June 21, 2018. Figueroa and Johanna Jeraldine D. Santos, Bantay Kalikasan Program Director signed for ABS-CBN.

ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. Bantay Kalikasan Program “aims to promote environmental stewardship and protection through its various projects and interventions all over the country, in cooperation with various government and private institutions.”