The Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Natural Resources Program-Regional Research and Development/Extension Network’s (ViCARP-RRDEN) TechnoMart and Pasalubong Counter (TMPC) is dedicated to the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) Executive Director (ED) Patricio S. Faylon, according to ViCARP–Regional Research and Development Coordinating Committee Chair Jose L. Bacusmo.
TMPC’s inauguration was timed by ViCARP and RRDEN on March 17, which is the PCARRD ED’s birthday. Bacusmo said that TMPC was built in honor of the ED because “Dr. Faylon has been pushing for technology promotion and commercialization and has been very supportive of ViCARP’s programs”.
Bacusmo explained that TMPC “is the first of three buildings envisioned for the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) project”. He also announced that Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Tekonolohiya para sa Mamayan (AGHAM) Representative Angelo B. Palmones has already committed to donate the second building.
Meanwhile, Bacusmo emphasized that bringing research results to the market is “probably the most difficult phase”. With the establishment of TMPC, “technologies generated by the researchers in the region will now have a market”, he added.
Also at the launch was Dr. Edwin Villar, PCARRD Livestock Research Division Director. He represented the PCARRD ED who unfortunately could not make it to the event.
In his message, Villar said that “the products (to be showcased at TMPC) must be identified along the line of the consortium’s S&T Agenda”. He also congratulated ViCARP for another trail-blazing project that would hopefully win more awards for the consortium.
A special guest, Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari, was happy to note that VSU was able to put up the building. She prided that Baybay has VSU, as VSU is well-known for its innovative and successful strategies. She also lauded ViCARP-RRDEN for coming up with the TMPC and that its establishment “would offer more support to researchers, in terms of technology promotion and commercialization”.
Incidentally, Mayor Cari, along with Senator Edgardo Angara, are among the donors in the construction of the TechnoMart Building. (Ireen Grace S. Palima/ViCARP-RCTU)
