Philippines: IRRI participates in 4th PhilRAA convention

More than eighty members of the Philippine-Rural Development Administration (Korea) Alumni Association (PhilRAA) attended the 4th PhilRAA convention, Revitalizing Linkages and Partnerships on S&T Innovations Towards Improving Livelihood of Farmers, at Traders’ Hotel in Pasay City on 24-25 January 2013. The convention featured technical presentations on the implementation of past and current RDA-PhilRAA-funded projects that showcased technologies suitable to some areas in the Philippines. PhilRAA members also elected its new board of directors and officers for 2013 to 2014. Mr. Julian Lapitan, senior manager of NPR-IRRI and a charter member of the association, was elected as the organization’s new President.

Hon. Min Kyong Ho, Consul General and Minister, gave the keynote speech at the convention on behalf of His Excellency Hyuk Lee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines.

Dr. Bruce Tolentino, IRRI deputy director general for communications and partnerships, challenged participants to follow the example of Saemul Undong (New Village Movement) of Korea. The movement catalyzed the transformation of Korea to reach its current state though a unified and focused effort towards national development.

Sang-Hwa Kim, head of the International Training of the International Technical Cooperation Center (ITCC) represented Dr. Sae-Jung Suh, Director of ITCC, RDA. Mr. Kim, who also handles the alumni affairs at RDA, assured participants of their continued support to the association in its drive to further improving the livelihood of the farmers in the Philippines.

Organized in Los Banos, Laguna in 2003, PhilRAA is composed of fellows and officers from national agricultural research and extension agencies, state universities and colleges, and other entities who attended training at or officially visited the Rural Development Administration (RDA) of Korea.

PhilRAA aims to forge liaison among its members through conferences, seminars, dialogues, and civic and non-civic activities; provides venue for information exchange related to agriculture and natural resources; and, promotes and encourages collaborative activities that demonstrate suitable technologies that will uplift the livelihood of Filipino farmers.



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