To strengthen its leadership in agricultural research, the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), through the Office of the Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training (OVPRET), conducted a strategic seminar titled “Streamlining of NEUST’s Onion Research Program Roadmap: NEUST’s ‘Sibuyas’ Development Goal (SDG)” from June 23 to 25, 2025, at Prime Asia Hotel, Angeles City.

The three-day seminar gathered NEUST faculty-researchers from various colleges and campuses to align ongoing and proposed onion-related projects with institutional, regional, and national priorities, setting the stage for a science-driven and future-ready onion industry.

Dr. Rhodora Jugo, University President, highlighted the university’s responsibility to push agricultural research forward.

“Kung ang sibuyas ay iniingatan para hindi mabulok, mas lalo dapat natin pangalagaan ang siyensya para ito ay magsilbing ani ng kinabukasan. In this 3-day activity, this will be our shared commitment, this will be our mantra. We are like onions, every part placed is important to all—the peel protects, the layers nourish, the root anchors, the bud promises growth,” she said.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Jean Guillasper, VP for Research, Extension, and Training, underscored the event as a crucial step in unifying the direction of NEUST’s onion research initiatives.

Research experts from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) facilitated the strategic planning activities.

Dr. Jonathan Niones, Chief Science Research Specialist and Head of the Genetic Resources Division, led a performance review and gap analysis, followed by workshops that updated the Onion Research Roadmap, evaluated ongoing studies, and developed a results-based action plan.

Meanwhile, Dr. Arlen Dela Cruz, Supervising Science Research Specialist of the DA-PhilRice and Assistant Chief of the DA-Crop Biotechnology Center, and Teodora Mananghaya, Senior Science Research Specialist of the Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Division, spearheaded the roadmap writeshop and proposal development sessions—equipping participants with tools to align their outputs with the NEUST Onion Research Program Roadmap 2025–2030.

Also joining the event was Dr. Julius Caesar Sicat, Regional Director of DOST Region III, who emphasized policy coherence and the broader impact of research.

“Through science, synergy, and a streamlined research roadmap, we at NEUST shall be taking a decisive step forward to consolidate, strengthen, and upgrade our onion research initiatives, with our ultimate goal of transforming Nueva Ecija into a global model for sustainable and inclusive ‘sibuyas’ development,” he said.

With Nueva Ecija hailed as the Onion Capital of the Philippines, NEUST remains committed to making research a key driver in sustainable agriculture and food security.

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