by: Lheslie Anne Carreon and Alelee Angelique Joyce Palacpac

Led by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), an inception meeting on the Documentation of Indigenous Vegetables in the Philippines was held at 9 AM today at the DOST-PCAARRD, Los Baños, Laguna.

The invited participants on the said meeting were the Indigenous Vegetable Experts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The main objective of the meeting was to give emphasis on the importance of indigenous vegetables and to raise awareness on these indigenous vegetables both in the local and national setting.

“Para sa akin kasi, ako ay bagong employee dito sa UPLB so marami akong natutunan ngayon lalo na sa guidelines since noong unang pasok ko dito, hindi ko siya na-handle nang ayos. After ng meeting, mas naintidihan ko siya and ‘yong nature at pagha-handle ng projects.” said Ishmael Reyes, one of the participants in the meeting.

(“For me, I am a new employee in UPLB so I have learned a lot today especially about guidelines since I was not able to handle it properly when I first worked here. After the meeting, I have understood it better and the nature and handling of projects.”)

“Ito namang project nila, nagro-roam around sila Philippines, malaki siyang impact. Ako nga, hindi ko alam ‘yong mga dini-discuss nilang mga crops so useful ‘yong mga information na makukuha ng mga tao not only in Los Baños but the whole country,” Reyes added.

(“In this project, they roam around the Philippines so there is a big impact. I personally do not know about those crops discussed so the information that the people not only in Los Baños but the whole country as well will get are all useful.”)

The project leader, Professor Nestor Altoveros, said that aside from the extensive gathering of information, the project also aims to partner with elementary and high school teachers to impart and share knowledge on indigenous vegetables. The project also aims to cater the needs and disseminate information about indigenous vegetables to all regions nationwide.

DOST-PCAARRD LB officers, together with the Indigenous Vegetable Experts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), take part in the meeting. (Photo by Alelee Angelique Joyce Palacpac)