The University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) hosted the 3rd Philippine Phytopathological Society (PPS) Mindanao Summit with the theme “Emerging Trends and Issues in Banana and Cacao Industry” at the University Social Hall, Obrero Campus, Davao City on April 28, 2017.
The Philippine Phytopathological Society – Southern Mindanao Division (PPS-SMD) in coordination with the Southern Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC) organized the summit and gathered around banana and cacao industry stakeholders – farmers, businessmen, private companies, government personnel, graduate and undergraduate students from agricultural schools in Region XI and XII, Mindanao’s renowned plant pathologists, and non-professional plant pathology practitioners to convey and discuss opportunities, challenges and emerging trends and issues related to these priority commodities in the country.
During the opening program, Dr. Lourdes C. Generalao, USeP President and the incumbent President of the PPS-SMD, welcomed the participants. She mentioned that the summit is one of the PPS-SMD’s undertakings to host relevant events that would serve as a venue for all dedicated plant pathologists to convene and tackle important matters affecting the interest of Mindanao.
Ms. Charita Puentespina, owner of Puentespina Farms that produces the famous Malagos Chocolate, gave the keynote speech. In her message, she encouraged the participants, especially the farmers present, to plant more cacao. She even emphasized that her company required a certain quantity of dried cacao beans for chocolate manufacturing and that the farmers could market their produce to her at a higher price.
Topics discussed during the summit included Management of Vascular Streak Disease of Cacao presented by Mr. Elijah Z. Davalos, Senior Science Research Specialist of Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech); Management of Phytophthora Disease of Cacao given by Ms. Marilou N. Infante, Center Chief of the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC XI); Prospects for the Philippine Cacao Industry discussed by Mr. Peter V. Cruz, Founding Member of the Cacao Industry Development Association in Mindanao, Inc. (CIDAMI); and the TADECO Experience on PhilGAP tackled by Mr. Reagan D. Navarro, Senior Manager of Research, Information and Compliance Division of the Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (TADECO).
Meanwhile, one of the goals of PPS-SMD is to raise enough fund to continually support its scholarship program for poor but deserving students who will be trained as future pest control officers of the country. These scholars are students in the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), Kabacan, Cotabato and USeP Tagum-Mabini Campus. Incidentally, some proceeds generated from the registration fees and the donation/monetary support of the private companies for the conduct of the summit has been retained and form part of the society’s fund for the scholarship program. (Sheryl S. Bayang)
