Ornamental plants, primarily grown for their beauty and aesthetic quality, are mainly used for decoration in gardens and landscape, and even indoor projects.
With the “plantito” and “plantita” hype during the pandemic, ornamental plants received the spotlight as people became devoted to gardening for stress relief.
The rapid increase in the demand for ornamental plants has necessitated science and technology (S&T) interventions in production strategies, propagation intensification and capability building of concerned stakeholders.
The project, “Enhancing the Ornamental Crops Industry in Bulacan through S&T-Based Propagation Techniques, Varietal Improvement and Capability Building,” was conceptualized to reinforce the ornamental plant industry in the province.
This was made possible by providing appropriate S&T interventions to the ornamental plant growers and the Innovative Tissue Culture Laboratory for Ornamental Plants (iLAB) in Guiguinto, Bulacan.
Bulacan State University (BulSU), in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Region 3, DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and the local government unit (LGU) of Guiguinto, is implementing the project.
It is funded by the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).
Besides the development of tissue culture protocols for orchids and anthurium, and the improvement of conventional propagation protocols for hoya, hibiscus and mussaenda, the project is expected to address the gaps in expertise and programs related to ornamental crop propagation through capability building activities.
The project supports the endeavor of the Guiguinto LGU in promoting the locality and the entire Bulacan province to make it the “Garden Capital” of the country in five to 10 years.
The recent inception meeting was led by Dr. Feliciano G. Calora Jr., deputy executive director for Research and Development of DOST-PCAARRD and Dr. Cecilia S. Navasero-Gascon, president of BulSU.
Dr. Allan B. Siano, officer in charge of the Crops Research Division (CRD), presented the rationale of the activity.
“This meeting aims to level off expectations and discuss the goals, expected outputs, roles and responsibilities, and monitoring and evaluation activities for the smooth implementation of this newly approved project,” Siano said.
Engr. Erwin dR. Magsakay, project leader, said expected outputs would include: standardized tissue culture protocols, integration of advanced and hybrid programs, and sustainable capacity building activities.
Leilani D. Pelegrina, section head of Program Monitoring and Evaluation and Program-based Information System of CRD, elaborated the terms of reference as well as processes related to budget releases for the project.
Meanwhile, Kimberly Zarah B. Locsin, Industry Strategic S&T Program manager for Ornamental Plants, presented the actions taken during the project’s presentation to the DOST-PCAARRD Directors’ Council.
The team visited the iLAB facility in Guiguinto.
Another facility will soon be established in BulSU-Hagonoy Campus operated by BulSU-Center for Advanced Environmental Science and Agricultural Research.
iLAB will supplement conventional practices by offering new services and innovative technologies. It will also offer novel hybrids with better agronomic traits and improved resistance against pests and diseases.
The facility hopes to offer these services in the future for large-scale producers, thereby contributing to boosting the ornamental plants industry in Guiguinto and potentially for the whole province.
Dr. Julius Caesar V. Sicat, DOST-Region 3 Director, Dir. Angelita Q. Parungao of DOST-Provincial S&T Office-Bulacan, and Guiguinto Mayor Agatha Paula A. Cruz welcomed the DOST-PCAARRD team.