Dr. Leah J. Buendia, Undersecretary for Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) signed a letter of support for the establishment of a joint bamboo laboratory during the exploratory visit of bamboo R&D projects of the Jiangxi Academy of Forestry (JAF) delegates on August 8, 2023 at the DOST Executive Lounge, Bicutan, Taguig, as part of their five day visit in the Philippines.
DOST Usec. Dr. Leah J. Buendia signs the letter of support. With her are (left to right) Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan, Prof. Yang Jiefang and Dr. Nimfa K. Torreta.
By virtue of the statement of support, the Philippine Government through the DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) will provide the necessary support on the following activities as agreed in the MOU between PCAARRD and JAF on the Establishment of Philippines-China Joint Program on Bamboo Research:
Establish Philippine-China joint laboratory on bamboo;
Research and technology promotion on advanced processing technology of bamboo resources; Demonstration and showcase of new technologies and products, and academic exchange, technical training and capacity building services.
USec. Buendia delivered a special message to welcome the JAF participants and acknowledged the excellent relations that exist between the Philippines and China.
She expressed the country’s continued support to the bilateral relations, particularly in the science and technology cooperation which have grown over the years since the signing of the S & T agreement on 1979. One testament of this is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Establishment of Philippines-China Joint Program on Bamboo Research through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) on September 6, 2021.
As part of the said MOU, three R&D projects proposals on bamboo were approved by DOST-PCAARRD to complement the R&D projects of JAF. Usec. Buendia also gave her appreciation to the DOST-FPRDI’s support and efforts on the ongoing negotiation with JAF for the establishment of the Bamboo R&D laboratory titled “Conversion of the FPRDI Boiler into a Bamboo Research and Development Laboratory.”
She hopes that there will be more parallel project proposals and other possible areas of cooperation and collaboration between JAF and DOST in the future.
The JAF participants are (left to right) Dr. Yu Nengfu, Dr. Hu Yuan, Prof. Yan Jiefang, Mr. Li Yuansheng and Dr. Wang Xiaodong.
From the People’s Republic of China, the JAF delegates included Prof. Yang Jiefang, President; Mr. Li Yuansheng, Deputy Director of Administration Office; Dr. Wang Xiaodong, leader of the Linjun Team; Dr. Hu Yuan, Associate Researcher and Dr. Yu Nengfu, Associate Researcher.
DOST Usec. Dr. Leah J. Buendia welcomes the JAF officials. Representatives from DOST-FPRDI, DOST-PCAARRD and DOST-ITCU are present as well during the courtesy visit.
Participants from the Philippine Government consisted of Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan, Director, DOST-FPRDI; Dr. Rico J. Cabangon, Deputy Director, Dr. Loreto A. Novicio, Program Leader, Bamboo and Other Non-Wood Forest, Dr. Jennifer P. Tamayo, –Project Leader, Bamboo Research and Development (R&D), Ms. Angela Jhanel C. Martin, Science Research Assistant, Ms. Arlene G. Torres, Senior Science Research Specialist, Ms. Angela Catacutan, Computer Operator III, DOST-FPRDI; Dr. Nimfa K. Torreta, Officer-in-Charge Director, Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD), DOST-PCAARRD, Dr. Dalisay E. Cabral, Senior Science Research Specialist, FERD, DOST-PCAARRD; Ms. Andrea Velasquez-Agapito, International Science Relations Officer III, DOST-International Technology Cooperation Unit (ITCU) and Mr. Gabriel Adrian Sumague, Project Technical Specialist V, DOST-ITCU. ### (Arlene G Torres, 08 August 2023)
