SEARCA News

Sharing the commitment to achieving food and nutrition security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and restoring biodiversity or ‘BioAgversity,’ the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) partnered with the Regalo ng Kilit Foundation, Inc. to convene the First International Conference on School plus Home Garden cum Biodiversity Enhancement Enterprise (SHGBEE1) with the theme “Restoring Biodiversity, Regenerating Agriculture, and Building Businesses” on 8-12 November 2022, to be held at Coron, Palawan, Philippines. SHGBEE1 aims to provide a platform for sharing of experiences and best practices related to school and home gardens and its contributions to biodiversity enhancement and… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Universidade da Paz (UNPAZ) institutionalized their mutual cooperation to collaborate in a number of areas of common interest such as education, training, and research. Moreover, UNPAZ and SEARCA agreed to collaborate in undertaking programs, projects, and other related activities, exchange scientific materials, publications, and information. In a face-to-face signing ceremony held on 10 October 2022, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two parties was signed by Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, and Engr. Jose Menezes Soares da Costa, UNPAZ Administration Council President, with… Read more

The International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) had a ceremonial signing of its Letter of Agreement (LOA) on the implementation of the International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM 2023) on 12 October 2022 at the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). The event will be held from 29 March to 2 April 2023 at the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) James Yen Center in Silang, Cavite. ACB is also a partner of ISST in the implementation of the event. ISST is a private non-stock and non-profit corporation… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) joined the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in the 104th UPLB Loyalty Day celebration on 4-16 October 2022. With the theme “Strengthening the Partnership between UPLB and Alumni for more Progressive Communities”, SEARCA staff participated in a festive celebration of the event way back in 1918 when members of the UPLB community volunteered to serve in the Philippine National Guard and fight in the historic World War 1. As of today, UPLB and members of the Los Baños Science Community where SEARCA is a member… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) convened the 70th SEARCA Governing Board Meeting (GBM) on 3 October 2022. It was the second time the Philippines hosted an in-person SEARCA GBM represented by Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., Chancellor, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), since Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, took the helm in 2019. As the highest policymaking body of SEARCA, the Governing Board (GB), composed of representatives from the 11 Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) member countries, conducts an annual evaluation and review of the Center's programs… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) was commissioned by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to conduct the evaluation of the Program on Accelerating Farm School Establishment (PAFSE). PAFSE is one of the programs of TESDA being implemented nationwide which aims to encourage farmers and other private individual to set up farm schools across the country. The program is one of the TESDA’s efforts to give top priority to the provisions of skills training, retooling, reskilling, and upgrading of the labor force, specifically those in the agri-fishery sector. TESDA implements the… Read more

Mr. Ramon Taniola, Senior Consultant of D&L Industries, Inc./Lao Foundation, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 14 October 2022 and met with SEARCA officials to discuss matters of mutual interest. He was received by Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director; Assoc. Prof. Joselito G. Florendo, Deputy Director for Administration; Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma, Senior Program Head, Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD); Dr. Gerlie T. Tatlonghari, Program Head, Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD); Asst. Prof. Glenn N. Baticados, Program Head, Emerging Innovation for Growth Department (EIGD); Ms. Sharon A… Read more

The family of Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), is one of the recipients of the Multi-Generation University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Alumni Award conferred by the UPLB Alumni Association (UPLBAA). The special recognition is bestowed on families who have produced three or more successive generations of exemplary UPLB alumni in their own respective fields. The three generations of UPLB graduates in the Gregorio family are the late Dr. Rizalino P. Gregorio (BS Agriculture in honor curriculum, 1958; MS Agricultural Engineering, 1972); his son Dr… Read more

Elementary and high school robotics enthusiasts from all over the Philippines, together with their coaches and parents, assembled at SM North Edsa, Quezon City on 22-23 September 2022, to compete in the 21st Philippine Robotics Olympiad (PRO) Finals. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) partnered with Felta Multi-Media, Inc. as a major sponsor in this year’s PRO. With this year’s theme, “My Robot, My Friend”, the first place winners in the different categories will have the opportunity to be part of the Philippine Robotics National Team 2022 and compete in the World Robot… Read more

Eight delegates from Philippine HEIs participated in the International Summer Course Program for Agriculture and Ecosystem Resilience to Environmental Disaster toward Regional Sustainability, jointly organized by IPB University and Ibaraki University from 11-20 September 2022 in Bogor, Indonesia. The International Continuing Professional Education (ICPE) Grants of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through the Leveling-Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources (LevelUPHEI AFAR) Project of SEARCA supported the faculty members as they presented their research studies to the international participants. The grant enables members of the State Universities and Colleges - Association of Colleges of Agriculture… Read more