DAR Unveils Tissue Culture Laboratory with Greenhouse Facility in Iloilo

The Department of Agrarian Reform Iloilo Provincial Office initiated the blessing and inauguration of the Tissue Culture Laboratory with Greenhouse Facility at Sitio Bangkal, Brgy. Guinobatan, New Lucena, Iloilo on May 22, 2024.

The said Php 7.0 Million worth facility started its construction in April 2023 and was completed in November of the same year. It was funded under the Sustainable and Resilient (SuRe) ARC Project.

Jesry T. Palmares, Undersecretary for Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO)/Project Implementation Officer for Foreign Assisted Project of the Department of Agrarian Reform, led the successful conduct of the activity.

In his message, USEC Palmares stated that through the tissue culture laboratory, it is possible to source out variety of quality plants, fruits, or the like, and propagate them 10 times, 100 times or even thousand times.

“You have been one of the firsts, and I hope that this will be the start of our project. We only have a few laboratories in our locality as of the moment and we plan to expand in order to be able to spike up our production" USEC Palmares said.

He also reiterated that farmers can get the best quality of Cacao seedlings and propagate these in the laboratory, which can be used for planting or distribute to other farmers as cited by Municipal Mayor Liecel Mondejar-Seville, in New Lucena.

Also present during the momentous event were Hon. Isabello Acollador, Municipal Vice Mayor, and the Sangguniang Bayan members, Farmer Association (FA) presidents, barangay officials, and personnel from the Department of Agriculture together with ARD Lucrecia Taberna, PARPO I Lourdes Causing, CARPO-PBDD Celina Candoleta, and MARPO Annabelle Ganzon of the Department of Agrarian Reform.

A total of 318 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and other farmers in the Municipality of New Lucena, Iloilo are expected to benefit from the said project.