Experts and participants on agricultural resources management totaling 35 individuals recently gathered as they were equipped with skills on how to use and optimize geographic information systems (GIS) tools and applications to enable a smarter, data-driven agricultural resources management for the Philippines.
The training, “Advanced GIS Applications for Agricultural Resources Management: A Comprehensive Training Workshop” was recently conducted at the Technopark Hotel, Sta. Rosa, Laguna by the Agricultural Resources Management Research Division (ARMRD) of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).
During the opening program, Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, DOST-PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management, and Support Services (ARMSS), expressed strong support for the division's initiative in spearheading the non-degree training in Advanced GIS. He encouraged participants to maximize the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and explore how these advanced applications can be integrated into their ongoing and future programs and projects.
Meanwhile, Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director, emphasized the greater impact of the training, stating: "Developing our network’s expertise in GIS is a vital investment that drives the creation of a more efficient, responsive, and ultimately resilient agricultural sector.”
Ms. Maria Teresa L. De Guzman, ARMRD Officer-in-Charge, reassured the participants of the Division’s commitment towards elevating the expertise of researchers from various State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) who are currently engaged in projects or programs with DOST-PCAARRD in advancing GIS techniques.
A distinguished lineup of resource persons from DOST-PCAARRD and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Ms. Pamela Anne V. Tandang provided the participants with knowledge on drafting proposals for the DOST and DOST-PCAARRD Grants-in-Aid programs and introduced DOST-PCAARRD's priority Industry Strategic Science & Technology Programs (ISPs).
Meanwhile, For. EnP. Jan Joseph V. Dida covered the fundamentals of GIS, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of data preprocessing, spatial analysis, and professional map generation. Building on this knowledge, Prof. Moises A. Dorado of UPLB led the third module, illustrating the vital role of GIS by showcasing its practical applications in UPLB’s Project SARAI or Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry and the ongoing Centralized National Hub for Regional Operations (SARAI CeNTRO) program.
Dr. Marcial S. Buladaco II of UPLB transitioned participants from understanding foundational concepts to developing and delivering potential research and development projects that apply advanced GIS and remote sensing techniques for agricultural resources management.
Through a five-part series of comprehensive workshops, Dr. Buladaco II equipped participants with knowledge on remote sensing principles and image interpretation, spatial interpolation for agricultural resource management, and the integration of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), GIS, and Remote Sensing for advanced crop suitability mapping. Dr. Buladaco II also ensured the acquisition of practical, applicable skills for the participants’ ongoing and future R&D initiatives as he shared his experience with partnering with the Council for his R&D projects while providing technical guidance throughout the workshops.
The training workshop culminated in a showcase of proposals that were presented to DOST-PCAARRD by the participating agencies. Dr. Juanito T. Batalon, DOST-PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development, extended his congratulations to all participants and organizers. He expressed excitement about the immediate application of the learned techniques and closed the ceremony with a challenge and call to action, "Together, let us continue to build smarter, more resilient, and more responsive systems for the AANR sector."
By equipping participants with the ability to visualize complex geographic relationships, enabling them to model and predict outcomes responsive to climate change and shifts in the agricultural landscape, the training led by PCAARRD-ARMRD and supported by PCAARRD Institution Development Division (IDD) fulfilled its vision of strengthening the local R&D capability of our National Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Network (NAARRDN). Further enabling the Council’s commitment to the HNRDA and its principle of promoting regional AANR productivity, competitiveness and sustainability in order to engender human, environmental and economic resilience.