Banga, Aklan – The annual Agency In-House Review of Aklan State University-Research and Development Services (ASU-RDS) was conducted on July 17-18, 2008 at the ASU Function Hall, Banga, Aklan. It was participated by the different colleges and schools in Banga and four external campuses of the University. There were 50 participants distributed as follows: College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (CFMS in New Washington) has 13 participants, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences and College of Teacher Education (CAFES and CTE in Banga) has 10 participants each, the School of Rural Resource Development and Management (SRRDM in Ibajay) sent seven participants, the Teacher Education Center (TEC in Makato) and School of Arts and Sciences (SAS in Banga) has three participants each, while the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) and School of Management Sciences (SMS ) (all in Banga) has two participants each.

Paper presentations were categorized as Completed, On-Going and Proposed researches. There were five papers presented in the completed research category, two for on-going and 13 in the proposed research category.

As incentives to faculty-researchers, Certificate of Awards were given to deserving winners. In the completed research category, Prof. Eva R. Orlina both won the Best Paper and Presenter Award for her paper entitled: Characterization of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge and Soils in Boracay Island. For the on-going research, the paper entitled: Regeneration of Somatic Embryos from Zygotic and Nucellar Tissues of Helmar Pummelo (Citrus maxima L.) was adjudged Best Paper and Best Presenter for Prof. Michael T. Ibisate. Under the proposed research category, the paper entitled RDE Project for Fiber Industry (Abaca Musa textiles Nee cv Agbayanon) in the Province of Aklan by Dr. Evelyn Vedasto, et al. got the Best Paper Award, while the Best Presenter was won by Prof. Rowena M. Legaspi for their paper entitled: Performance of Darag Native Chicken Raised Under Different Production System: Study 1. Growth Performance of Darag Native Chicken Grown Under Orchard and Coconut-Based Production Systems. Winners from all categories came from CAFES.

Evaluators were invited to act as panelists during the presentation to come up with the Best Paper and Best Presenter Award. They were: 1) Prof. Marilou J. Ang Lopez of UPV, 2) Dr. Federito D. Launio of CapSU, 3) Prof. Jaime Cabarles, Jr. of CPU, 4) Dr. Roel A. Alli of WVSU in Lambunao, Iloilo, 5) Prof. Joseph O. Idemne of UPV and Consortium Director of WESVARRDEC and Mrs. Alicia L. Robelo of the DENR.

The Best Paper for this year’s In-House Review will compete in the upcoming Regional Symposium for R & D Highlights to be held at CapSU, Roxas City on August 13-14, 2008.

The moderators during the 2-day presentation are Dr. Elsa I. Abayon, RDS Director and Dr. Perlita R. Israel during the first and second day, respectively.

The successful conduct of this year’s In-House Review was facilitated by the RDS office headed by its RDS Director and was closely supervised by the Vice President for Research and Extension, Dr. Roberto L. Saladar.// MMT & LJT