LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- An upgraded research laboratory worth P46.49 million was opened on July 26 to support the agricultural productivity in relation to the improvement of soil, health, and water availability in the Cordillera.
The facility at the new R and E building of Benguet State University (BSU) was opened by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), BSU, and the Philippine Council for Agricultural and Aquatic Resources Research and Development (PCAARD).
The inauguration was spearheaded by DOST Secretary Professor Fortunato Dela Pena, DOST Cordillera Director Nancy Bantog, and La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda.
"The facility [is] intended for the use of the entire Cordillera region for modern soil, water and plant laboratory. The people from the Cordillera are lucky because now, you have this instruments that will help you to care for your ecosystem," Dela Pena said.
"We focus initially on soil and water. But there are other facilities that are devoted to other activities, molecular biology, pest control, which are related to have better agricultural activity and contribute to number of sustainable development goals," he added.
Soil samples will be analyzed according to texture, water holding capacity, hydrolic and electrical activity, density, moisture, acidity, organic carbon, and mineral content. And for water testing it will include chemical analysis, like levels of nitrogen.
"Imagine the wide range of tests that can be conducted using the facilities," he added.
Funding for the upgraded laboratory came from the PCAARD with a P3.1 million counterpart from BSU.
This will help address the decline in the production of vegetable crops of the Cordillera due to poor soil condition, contaminated water, and incidence of pests and diseases.
As future outputs, the facility is set to conduct 5,000 soil samples, 1,000 plant samples, and 500 irrigation water samples a year.
Trainings on sample collections, analysis and interpretation, basic and specialized equipment operation, and maintenance. Around 54 faculty-researchers will be also trained.
Bantog said the inauguration of the various laboratories at BSU is catering Science and Technology Innovation that will be felt at the grassroots level, and it really complements the existing facilities in Cordillera for better delivery of services.
"Looking at the facilities, DOST-CAR (Cordillera) to aid in sharing experience in securing all the permits from the regulatorary bodies," she added.