BAGUIO CITY: The International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) welcomed fifteen new ordinary members during the 23rd Philippine National Fruit Symposium, organized by the Philippine Fruit Association (PFA) on 19-23 October 2015.
Chief Executive Officer Desa Hassim, PhD presented the activities of TFNet and encouraged the participants to join the Network. After the presentation, the PFA is considering to join as an associate member.
The new ordinary members are experts in various fields of agriculture and hail from the academe, the government, and the private sector. They are:
- Dr. Louella M. Cabahug, Professor, Central Mindanao University
- Rogelio J. Saniel, President, Saniel Integrated Farm
- Dr. Marilyn E. Romaquin, Vice President, Philippine Fruits Association
- Matilde Q. Gumtang, Agriculturist, Bureau of Plant Industry
- Dr. Emma Ruth V. Bayogan, Professor, University of the Philippines Mindanao
- Dr. Arturo M. Alegado, Dean, Bataan Peninsula State University
- Dr. Juliet M. Ochasan, Agriculturist, Bureau of Plant Industry
- Dr. Danilo P. Padua, President, Philippine Fruits Association
- Rogelio G. Custodio, Agriculturist, Bureau of Plant Industry
- Nancy T. Aspuria, Sr. Agriculturist, Bureau of Plant Industry
- Raymundo Julius G. Rosales, Instructor, Mariano Marcos State University
- Bielmaju A. Waley, MD, Municipal Health Officer/Manager, Muwayan Farms and Nursery
- Maritess A. Alimurung, Agriculturist, Bureau of Plant Industry
- Franklin G. Bawang, Assistant Professor, Benguet State University
- Joey I. Orajay , Plant Pathologist, Del Monte Philippines
A fruitful symposium
Bearing the theme “Let’s Make it Fruitful All Over”, the 23rd Philippine National Fruit Symposium featured technical papers and posters on topics such as fruit production and management, varietal improvement, crop protection , germplasm conservation, health and nutrition, product development, postharvest, and organic fruit farming.
The attendance was lower than expected because Typhoon Lando (Koppu) ravaged the Northern Philippines during the symposium. In spite of the circumstance, the participants actively engaged in the Symposium.
