SEARCA News

Officials from the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 6 May 2025 to seek support for its institutional development. The delegation included Dr. Virgilio Julius Manzano, Jr., University President; Dr. Dionisio Bucao, Director for Innovation and Technology; Prof. Jeanette Dials, Director for Internationalization, Linkages, and Partnership; and Dr. Peter James Gann, Chief of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Medical Research. They were welcomed by Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director. With her were Dr. Nur Azura binti Adam, Deputy Director for Programs; Dr. Maria Cristeta… Read more

BALI, Indonesia – Leadership, communication, and transformational change anchored Module 4 of the ASEAN Climate Leadership Programme (ACLP) III, an intensive hybrid event held on 23-24 April 2025 that underscored experiential learning by blending on-site activities in Bali with virtual participation. This hybrid format is a first for ACLP since it began in 2020. Module 4 covered personal leadership, stages of the Theory U and how it relates to the participants' personal change project, and introduction to the principles of risk communication. In Bali, participants visited Sustainability & Resilience Co. (su-re.co) and the Jiwa Community Garden where they engaged with… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) continues to sow seeds of inspiration among young students through its Youth in Agri Talk Show, which aired its third episode titled "Growing the Future: The Power of School and Home Gardens," on 30 March 2025 at 7:00 p.m. (GMT +8:00) on SEARCA's Facebook page. Garnering 385,000 views within its first month of airing—three times more than the views of the previous episode —the episode highlighted the transformative role of gardening in youth development. It featured the Philippine Department Education's (DepEd) Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP), which… Read more

Eighty-three students from New Era University College of Communication, accompanied by their instructors, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 25 April 2025 to learn about the important role of communication in the field of agriculture. They were welcomed by Dr. Nur Azura binti Adam, SEARCA Deputy Director for Programs, and key Partnerships Unit staff. During the visit, Ms. Zara Mae Estareja, Senior Associate for Public Relations, briefed the students on the Center's core programs. She discussed the challenges encountered in agricultural communication, such as simplifying complex research findings for general audiences… Read more

NUEVA ECIJA, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) led the second stakeholder engagement workshop on Transforming Rice Farming through Low-Carbon Solutions on 23 April 2025 in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija. The workshop was conducted in partnership with Leads Agricultural Products Corporation (Leads), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and the Municipal Government of Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija. The workshop convened over 100 stakeholders from across the rice value chain Participants included rice farmer groups and associations, irrigators' association, and key officials and staff from the Municipal Agricultural Office and local government unit… Read more

The Midterm Review of the Postgraduate Micro-Credentials for Food Security and Climate Change (PMC FSCC) project was held on 23–24 April 2025 at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. The two-day event brought together partner institutions from Southeast Asia and Europe to assess the project's accomplishments and plan the next steps as it enters its final phase. Funded by the European Commission's ERASMUS+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program, the PMC FSCC project (2023–2026) aims to develop modular, stackable, and flexible micro-credential programs that address critical challenges… Read more

PASIG CITY, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) met with representatives from the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA) and Go Negosyo on 11 April 2025 to discuss a potential collaboration to strengthen food security efforts in Southeast Asia through private-sector-led initiatives. Led by Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, Center Director, the SEARCA delegation included Dr. Rico Ancog, Special Assistant to the Director; Ms. Sharon Malaiba, Unit Head for Partnerships; and Ms. Loise Ann Carandang, Senior Associate for Communications. Dr. William Dar, AFSA Senior Adviser, and Mr. Julio Matti, Go Negosyo Programs Development Officer… Read more

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) strongly supported the Philippine Association of Research Managers (PHILARM) in successfully convening the 6th International Research, Development, and Extension Management Congress (IRDEMC) on 18-19 March 2025 in partnership with Saigon Business School (SBS), Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), Marinduque State University (MarSU), and Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA). Held at the Canadian International School (CIS) and SBS, the event brought together researchers and educators from the Philippines… Read more

H.E. Sonexay Vannaxay, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lao PDR to the Republic of the Philippines, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 15 April 2025. Accompanying him was Ms. Chansamone Paserdung, Administrative Staff. The delegation was received by Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, Center Director; Dr. Nur Azura Adam, Deputy Director for Programs; Dr. Rico Ancog, Special Assistant to the Director; and Ms. Sharon Malaiba, Unit Head for Partnerships. During the visit, Ambassador Vannaxay was briefed on SEARCA's core programs and its long-standing cooperation with Lao PDR. Among the highlights were graduate scholarships… Read more