Additional equipment and upgrading of facilities necessary to implement the project: “Strengthening institutional capability to improve reproductive efficiency, milk quality and safety in water buffaloes” was discussed and agreed upon by collaborating partners PCAARRD and PCC in an inception meeting held at the PCC headquarters in the Science City of Muñoz last August 18.
Said meeting which is a follow-up of the first inception meeting in February 10 this year reviewed the guidelines, expected outputs, schedule of activities, and possible problems that may be encountered further leading to a need of upgrading.
The collaboration project was subdivided into five component studies: development of feeding protocols and practices to support the nutritional requirements of dairy buffaloes with Dr. Daniel Aquino as the project leader, reproductive management program of water buffaloes under the supervision of Dr. Edwin Atabay, animal health care technologies and practical farm practices led by Dr. Michelle Balbin, milk quality and safety assurance from farm to milk processing plant headed by Ms. Mina Abella, and strengthening of the Carabao-based Development Program in San Agustin, Isabela led by Dr. Annabelle Sarabia.
PCC acting executive director Dr. Arnel del Barrio presented the current accomplishments of the project after six months of implementation and said that PCC is on track based on its commitments.
Dr. Edwin Atabay, overall head of the PCC-PCAARRD collaboration project, explained the distribution of Php 10,730,000 approved budget for needed equipment. He said the fund will be utilized to acquire milk analyzer worth Php 8,500,000; portable understand machine, Php 800,000; direct tube mixer, Php 500,000; centrifugal evaporator with pump, Php 500,000; centrifuge table top, Php 200,000; pipettes, Php 150,000; and multi-channel pipette, Php 80,000.
PCAARRD, on the otherhand, through Engr. Wilmar Lastimosa, Senior Science Research Specialist of the Institution Development Division (IDD) reminded PCC project leaders on the monitoring and evaluation of the project, funding management and procurement procedures.
A site vitiation to the location of the five projects was also scheduled in the inception meeting.
PCAARRD officials who also attended the meeting were Dr. Juanito Batalon, director of IDD, Dr. Synan Baguio from Livestock Research Division, and IDD administrative assistant V Ms. Eleanor Ocampo.
