Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
(044) 4560-213, od@philmech.gov.ph

NEWS STORIES

PHilMech engineers receive PSAE award
by Raymond C. Cruda (July 29, 2010)
Dr. Rodolfo P. Estigoy, chief of the Applied Communication Division of PHilMech, and other agricultural engineers received awards during the 60th Annual National Convention and 8th International Conference and Exhibition of the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) on April 21-24, 2010 at the Benguet State University, La Trinidad Benguet.

Estigoy was named as the 2010 Most Outstanding Agricultural Engineer in the field of postharvest extension. Prior to his designation as head of the communication group of PHilMech, he headed the Technology Promotion and Extension Division from 1992 to 2008.

The PSAE conferred the award to Estigoy for `his outstanding achievement and exemplary performance in the transfer of postharvest technologies thereby enhancing the adoption, diffusion and commercialization of research and development results in the countryside.`

Indeed a pride to PHilMech, as an extensionist `he has provided technical assistance to numerous cooperatives and farmer`s organizations nationwide in improving their postproduction operations which contributed significantly to the advancement of the agricultural engineering profession.`

Four other PHilMech engineers also bagged awards for their presented papers. They were Engr. Edgar Flores of the Bio-Process Engineering Division (BPED) who got first and second place in the best paper and best poster category, respectively for his project `Alternative Biomaterials Filled with Starch and Agri-wastes`.

From Agricultural Machinery Division, Engr. Reagan J. Pontawe bagged the third best paper and third best poster for his project entitled `Agro-industries Infrastructure Development: The Case of Establishing Farmer-based Drying Center for Paddy and Corn in Camarines Sur, Philippines.`

Engr. Andres M. Tuates,Jr. also from BPED landed on fourth place for his poster `Design and Development of Corn Row-Crop Cultivator with Fertilizer Applicator.`
Meanwhile, Engr. Rodelio G. Idago of the Socio-Economic Policy Research Division got the fifth best poster for his project `Assessment of the Impact of the Agricultural Tramline System on the Productivity of the Uplands.`

With the theme, `The Evolving Agricultural Engineers: Spearheading Global and Local Economic Development,` the activity was attended by agricultural engineers here and abroad.

The PSAE convention is conducted annually to provide a venue for agricultural engineers to present their researches which can contribute in the advancement of the field of agricultural engineering.