QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) will hold a special virtual presser on 28 October 2021 to share to the public and other key stakeholders their various programs towards strengthening the country’s biodiversity. 

Dubbed as DOST-PCAARRD S&T Biodiversity Program, it aims to contribute significantly to the DOST’s conservation efforts and impart the knowledge towards sustainable use of biodiversity in different ecosystems in the country –terrestrial biodiversity, marine, and aquatic biodiversity, and indigenous plants and native animals’ biodiversity. 

All the details and components for each program will be presented and discussed during the upcoming special virtual presser.  

First is the Terrestrial Biodiversity S&T Program. This pertains to the nationwide resource assessment initiative on the flora and fauna which aims to document new species discoveries in the country’s rich biodiversity. 

Second is the Marine Biodiversity R&D Program. This is composed of seven projects as it embarked on a grand scheme of ecological and ecosystem diversity management and conservation in the hope of having a sustainable use of our marine resources. The significant outputs of the program include, among others, the science-based information generated from the documentation of deep-water biodiversity in the Benham Bank Seamount that helped pave the way for the declaration of 50,000-hectare Benham Bank as a marine protected area. 

Last, there is the Indigenous Plants and Native Animals Biodiversity S&T Program that documented and characterized various rarely used indigenous plants as sources of food and livelihood. Also, the program ventured into the community-based production, breeding, and distribution of native pigs as a commercially viable livelihood. 

Saribuhay Series on DOST Biodiversity S&T Program

Meanwhile, the R&D results of these Biodiversity S&T Program interventions will be featured in the ‘Saribuhay Docuseries’. Through this communication platform, every Filipino will have the opportunity to understand and appreciate the importance of environment protection and conservation in ensuring sustainable development. 

Each episode would take the viewers on a visual journey towards appreciating the value of the country’s rich biodiversity that serves as our basic life support system and abundant source of raw materials for various industries. 

Additionally, these episodes would provide in-depth and wider perspectives on conservation efforts being done by our local scientists and researchers as presented in an educational and entertaining fashion that will surely elicit positive responses from viewers.

The airing of its pilot episode will be held on Thursday, 28 October 2021. 

The special virtual presser will be streamed live on via DOST-PCAARRD Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/PCAARRD) on 28 October 2021, starting 2:00 PM. For those interested to join this event, you may register through this link https://bit.ly/SaribuhayReg.

Incidentally, more knowledge products and innovations of DOST-PCAARRD will be featured in the upcoming celebration of the 2021 National Science and Technology Week to be held from 22-28 November 2021 through the virtual platform. To also know more of the different technologies, innovations, activities, forums, and webinars of the other DOST agencies and regional offices showcased in the 2021 NSTW, kindly visit its website at http://nstw.dost.gov.ph/ and check out the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/nstwdost and these hashtags #2021NSTW, #DOSTTugonSaHamon, #ScienceforthePeople. (By AMVMarfal, DOST-STII)