MANDALUYONG CITY, Philippines—The Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) recognized the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) as one of its dedicated partners during the Partners' Appreciation Program held at the Mandaluyong City College of Science and Technology Gymnasium on 8 May 2028.
H.E. Sonny Angara, Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) of the Philippines, presented the plaque of appreciation to SEARCA Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla.With the theme "Partnerships that endure. Reforms that last," the event gathered more than 200 DepEd partner organizations from government, diplomatic missions, research institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector. SEARCA Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla received the plaque of appreciation on behalf of the Center.
DepEd, SEARCA's focal agency in the Philippines under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), cited the Center's steadfast support in advancing quality education.
Over the years, SEARCA and DepEd have worked together on initiatives such as the School-Plus-Home Gardens Project (S+HGP) and its offshoot initiatives, namely, the School-Plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) in Palawan, Philippines and Cambodia, and the School Edible Landscaping for Entrepreneurship (SEL4E) in Rizal, Philippines. These programs use school and home gardens as living laboratories for learners to improve nutrition, strengthen appreciation for agriculture and biodiversity, and encourage agri-entrepreneurship, while also building educators' capacities.
The collaboration has also expanded into innovation-driven education, introducing agri-robotics training in DepEd schools in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. SEARCA and DepEd also signed a memorandum of agreement for a Scoping Study for Micro-credentials in Southeast Asia covering Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, aligned with DepEd's 7-7-7 flagship programs under the Philippine SEAMEO Council Presidency.
More recently, the two institutions co-hosted the dialogue "From Farms to Classrooms: Nourishing Futures Together" on 26 March 2026 in Batangas, Philippines. The event convened educators, agricultural cooperatives, and local policymakers to explore how local agriculture can strengthen school nutrition programs and advance DepEd's vision of universal school feeding.
DepEd's recognition affirms SEARCA's role as a trusted partner in promoting agriculture-based learning and ensuring that education reforms translate into better opportunities and brighter futures for Filipino learners.
In line with its mandate and its 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia), SEARCA is committed not only to engaging youth in agriculture by supporting the integration of agriculture into basic education, but also to equipping teachers to deliver context-based, learner-centered instruction that connects classroom learning to real-life agricultural practices. Moreover, the Center champions transformative reforms in agricultural education to ensure it remains relevant, responsive, and future-ready.