Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

BPRE engineers win in CLARRDEC Regional R&D Symposium
by Modesto L. Jose (August 20, 2009)
Dr. Manolito C. Bulaong, Engr. Rodelio G. Idago and Engr. Andres M. Tuates, all engineers from the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension, won in the recently concluded Central Luzon Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLARRDEC) 20th Regional Symposium on Research and Development.

The symposium with the theme "CLARRDEC: Responding to Challenges due to Climate Change through Science and Technology" was held at Bataan Peninsula State University, Abucay, Bataan on August 14, 2009.

Dr. Bulaong grabbed the second place on the best paper competition under the research category while Engr. Tuates and Engr. Idago won the first and second place, respectively, on the poster competition.

Bulaong presented his paper on quality analysis of milled rice using computer vision. His research project presented a computer vision system (CVS) for classification of milled rice quality. This is an alternative to tedious, subjective and slow method of manual milled rice analysis.

Meanwhile, Tuates' winning poster was on the design and development of BPRE onion quick sorter. The poster focused on the development of the onion quick sorter which is technically and financially viable when used under local conditions.

Idago's second best poster dealt on the economic assessment of the tramline transport facility in Benguet, Philippines.A tramline is an alternative means of transport of agricultural products in hard-to-reach mountainous production areas not accessible by farm-to-market roads.

Winners for the best paper competition, both research and development categories were selected based on the following criteria: creativity, originality and quality of work, significance of findings, manuscript writing, and manuscript presentation.

Dr. Renato G. Reyes of the Central Luzon State University won first place in the research category, while Dr. Edgar A. Orden, also of CLSU won first place in the development category.

Poster winners were selected based on originality, clarity in message and visual impact.

BPRE is one of the 26 member-agencies and institutions of CLARRDEC. It conducts research and development activities in agriculture particularly on postharvest and mechanization.

CLARRDEC was organized in 1978 to provide a venue for planning, monitoring, evaluating and sharing of resources and programs among R&D institutions in the region. Its goal is to effectively manage the promotion and utilization of research results and technologies by implementing integrated R&D programs that will help attain the goals of sustainable development.