1502nd RRIBn participates in Simultaneous Nationwide Mustering

The 1502nd Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion (1502RRIBn) under the administration of 1502nd Community Defense Center (1502CDC), 15th Regional Community Defense Group (15RCDG), Reserve Command (RESCOM), Philippine Army (PA), participated in the Simultaneous Nationwide Mustering of Philippine Army Reservist hosted by the Headquarters Reserve Command, Philippine Army held on 22 October 2022 at Covered Court, Agusan del Sur National High School, Barangay 5, San Francisco, this province.

These activities are in lined with the Commander, RESCOM, PA’s intent to strengthen the organization by conducting an inventory of all reservists and monitoring qualified reserve force administrators and reservists in accordance with the Command’s Five (5)-Key Priorities.

In compliance with section 49 of Republic Act 7077, which states that “all reservists, particularly those belonging to the Ready and Standby Reserve, shall be accounted for, their records and status updated, and their current whereabouts ascertained in order to ensure their readiness to the call to duty.”

Major General Fernando V Felipe, Commander of Reserve Command (RESCOM), Philippine Army (PA), expressed his gratitude to the reservists for the time and effort they put into volunteering their services to the country. He also added that their commitment, selfless service, and achievements on the ground are very significant to the success of the RESCOM, PA mission.

Reservists of 2003rd Ready Reserve Infantry Brigade under the command of Brigadier General Claro A. Lozada, Brigade Commander were also present during the said activity.

A total of 145 able-bodied individuals took part in the PA reservist simultaneous nationwide mustering. (2Lt Adones L. Apilada, Executive Officer, 1502 CDC/ PIA-Agusan del Sur)

DA-CARAGA SUPPORTS AGRI INNOVATION THROUGH RESEARCH

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga spearheaded the Annual Inter-Agency Research and Development Review on October 19 to 21, 2022 at Cantillan, Surigao del Sur as another intitiative of the agency to continuously strive for agricultural improvement and innovation to increase production and create a sustainable livelihood for farmers through research. Based on the report, sixteen research papers were presented during the activity. The researches were conducted by the different government agencies, local government units, and state universities and colleges tailored fit on the needs of the farmers and agriculture demographic in Caraga region.

The annual conduct of the research paper review aims to refine and evaluate the agency’s completed, ongoing, and new projects. Most of the presented research proposals are reseraches on oybeans, rice, and corn, high-value crops, feed and fertilization, and mechanization.

DA-Caraga said that reserach proposals are being reviewed to ensure alignment with the agency’s banner programs, major thrust and projects that will contribute to the achievement of DA’s goals.

The agency also emphasized the pressing need to invest in more

scientific research to improve productivity, livelihood opportunities and ensure global food security amid agricultural challenges such as climate change, yield losses, and diminishing natural resources.

The Design Fabrication Compacting Machine (Cacao) of Engr. Analy L. Solania bagged the first place in Best Research Proposal. Her study aims to design, fabricate, and evaluate the performance of a 2-in-1 Pyrolyzing and Briquetting Machine.

Meanwhile, the Field Validation of Simulated Values of Mechanized Corn Production by Reynan P. Mamalis ranked first place in Best Research Paper. This ongoing project intends to quantify the increase in the yield and reduction of production costs attributed to mechanized land preparation and mechanized planting method.

The agency emphasized that the proposals are yet to be revised based on the findings and recommendations given by the evaluators before submission to the DABureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), the research funding agency. The ongoing projects will also be revised and progress will be presented to the concerned technical team.

The distinguished evaluators were Dr. Tomas M. Austral, Jr., Animal Science Expert; Dr. Raquel M. Balanay, Socio-Economic Expert; Dr. Rowena P. Varela, Entomology Expert; Nic Oswald M. Borines, Plant Breeding Expert, all from Caraga State University (CSU); and Engr. Rene Q. Morales, Agricultural Engineering Expert and Chief of DA-Regional Agricultural Engineering Division. (Lovely Joy L. Saludez, DA-Caraga/PIASurigao del Sur)