Western Visayas Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVAARRDEC)- WVSU Base Agency, the country' oldest R&D consortium in the agriculture, aquatic and natural resources (AANR) sector honored and recognized its founding members as well as new member agencies last May 31, 2023 through PAGPASIDUNGOG 2023, an awards and recognition ceremony held at Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo. WESVAARRDEC is one of the regional consortia in the country supervised by Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) that pools together resources to advance AANR related science and technology R&D in consonance with regional and national development goals. 

Despite torrential rains and stormy skies, nothing could dampen the anniversary celebration, a culmination of 35 years of dynamic engagement and collaboration among Western Visayas private HEIs, SUCs,  regional agencies and organizations brought together by the mission to uplift the state of AANR in the region through research and development projects and initiatives. Due to inclement weather, some member agencies from Negros Occidental joined the awards and recognition ceremony via Zoom. 

Outgoing Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISATU) and WESVAARRDEC Regional Research and Coordinating Council (RRDCC) Chair Dr. Raul F. Muyong expressed his gratitude to the consortium member agencies for their unwavering commitment and especially to DOST-PCAARRD for providing support and direction to the consortium's activities and projects.

Keynote speaker Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Executive Director of PCAARRD was not personally able to attend the event and was represented by Dr. Mari-Ann M. Acedera, Director of PCAARRD's Marine Resources Research Division. In behalf of Dr. Ebora, she warmly conveyed a highlight of the PCAARRD  Executive Director's message:

Let me take this opportunity to recognize WESVAARRDEC's leadership and outstanding accomplishments in keeping with our 35th anniversary theme, WESVAARRDEC at 35, vigorously advancing the AANR sector through R&D. 

We must acknowledge the clever solutions that the consortium put into place to support sustainable agriculture, aquatic and natural resources or AANR development in Region 6. For one, the WESVAARRDEC's persistence in pursuing initiatives and projects to harmonize and improve the research agenda in the AANR sector in Western Visayas. 

For more information about WESVAARRDEC's R&D initiatives, visit WESVARRDEC's relaunched website at www. wesvaarrdec.com. (C. Amular)