CSU trains agri specialists, workers on rearing European Queen Bee

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, April 1 (PIA) – The Catanduanes State University (CSU) led the training of 25 agriculture specialists and workers in Catanduanes on rearing of European queen honeybee as part of the university’s sustainable program for the newly established Provincial Apiculture Center,

CSU’s Extension Services, in partnership with the Regional Apiculture Center of Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, has trained the municipal agriculture officers, agricultural technicians, farmers, and extension workers.

Kelly Clark, Canadian volunteer and adviser, led the discussion of the exemplar and also the on-site lectures at the Provincial Apiculture Center of the CSU Bio Park.

Queen Bee rearing is the raising of healthy virgin queens from good genetic stock and providing conditions that will allow them to mature and mate properly and be the foundation of effective bee colonies.

Queen bee typically refers to an adult, mated female that lives in a honeybee colony or hive. She is usually the mother of most, if not all, the bees in the hive. The queens are developed from larvae selected by worker bees and specially fed in order to become sexually mature. There is normally only one adult, mated queen in a hive.

Several bee colonies housed in simulated beehives were installed at the Center to induce honey bee production. Beekeeping is recognized by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as an important agricultural activity providing income and livelihood to small farmers.

The Provincial Apiculture Center was launched on November 29, 2012 with funding support of P300, 000 from the municipal government of Virac and assistance of the office of Cong. Cesar V. Sarmiento of the lone district of Catanduanes.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines Apiculture (from the Latin Api or bees) as the science and practice of bee keeping.

The words ‘apiculture’ and ‘beekeeping,’ FAO adds, tend to be applied loosely and used synonymously: in some parts of the world, significant volumes of honey are today still obtained by plundering wild colonies of bees – this ‘honey hunting’ cannot be properly described as ‘beekeeping’. Honey hunting remains an important part of many rural livelihoods. FAO states that in some parts of the world apiculture forms part of the work of hunter-gatherers, while elsewhere apiculture is practiced by highly industrialized agriculturalists in the world’s richest nations.

FAO experts furthered that the product that most people first associate with bees is honey, although beekeeping generates much more than just honey. The maintenance of biodiversity and pollination of crops are the most valuable services provided by bees.

The project was also pursued by the Department of Agriculture (DA) which promotes beekeeping through the Bureau of Animal Industry, NARTDI or the National Apiculture Research, Training and Development Institute.

NARTDI was created through RA 9151 and it is under the auspices of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in La Union.

Four species of honeybee thrive best in the Philippines, that include Apis mellifera also called European honeybees, Apis cerana also locally called laywan, Apis dorsata commonly called pukyutan, Apis melliponinea or stingless bees

The Sunflower is the source of nectar which is essential in beekeeping, particularly in producing quality and premium honey.

Some of the forest tree species, which are good sources of pollen and nectars for the bees, are narra, calliandra, eucalyptus, oak tree, molave, camachili, kakawate, duhat, rain tree, African tulip, jacaranda, ipil-ipil, and other forest trees.

Cereal crops like corn and plants such as banana, mango, coconut, coffee, cacao, citrus, peanut, mongo, tomato, and eggplant are favorites of honeybees.

Beekeeping experts say that honey is just one of several products that can be harvested in the bee colony. Others are beeswax, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and venom.

Apitherapy, which is the medicinal use of honey bee venom as well as honey bee products, is also one of the benefits that can be derived from the beekeeping industry. (MAL/GSRubio-CSU/PIA5)



Morales, elected first CSU President

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, April 1 (PIA)- Dr. Minerva I. Morales was unanimously elected as the Catanduanes State University's (CSU) first President during the CSU Board of Regents meeting on March 25, 2013 at CHED Central Office, UP Diliman Campus.

The election was chaired by Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education. It likewise culminated the almost two months search process which officially started on February 4, 2013.

Prior to the BOR election, Dr. Morales likewise topped in the three-tiered competitive selection process wherein the applicants were rated in accordance with CHED Memorandum Order No. 16 series 2009, or the Rules and Regulations Governing the Search for President of State Universities and Colleges. The general evaluation consisted of Profile Appraisal (Professional Competence and Academic Background), Public Forum, and Panel Interview.

Under Profile Appraisal-Professional Competence, the applicant’s crafted Philosophy, Mission and Vision was graded, as well as the Relevant Administrative Experiences, Managerial Competence, and Acceptability in the Community. In the Academic Background, the applicant's Tertiary Level Teaching and Extension experiences were accordingly rated, including Relevant Academic and Research Background.

In the Public Forum, the applicants were rated according to their Personal Traits, Grasp and Ability to Respond to Situation; Mission, Vision, Programs; Public Image, Acceptability and Rapport with Constituents, and Personal Credibility.

Dr. Morales was designated by CHED Central Office as the University Officer In-Charge last December 10, 2012 after the conversion of Catanduanes State Colleges into a university. On July 15, 2011, she was elected as the sixth President of the CSC.

Recently, she finished the Executive Management Program at Asian Institute of Management as recipient of the Philippine Association of State Colleges and Universities (PASUC) - Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Executive Development Program for State Universities and Colleges (SUC) Presidents.

She also completed the Executive Course in Education Management and Leadership jointly implemented by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the Commission on Higher Education, in partnership with the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges. The program, which is aligned to the Public Higher Education Reform Roadmap (PHER) 2011-2016, aims to “enhance the capability of managers of public higher education institutions to implement the reforms and program initiatives of the PHER Roadmap.” Moreover, it is designed to develop and strengthen the key leadership and management capabilities of senior executives and middle managers of state universities all over the country, putting emphasis on SUC performance excellence, entrepreneurship, strategic innovation and global competitiveness, according to DAP.

Dr. Morales built her career in the academe starting as Instructor I. Currently she holds the Professor VI academic rank, with multidisciplinary expertise both in theory and practice in aquatic sciences, biodiversity, research and development management, and educational administration. She also handled various administrative posts such as College Secretary, Officer in Charge of Research and Extension Services, Director for Research and Development Services and Vice President for Research, Extension and Production Affairs. She was also designated for several times times as Officer-in-Charge of the Catanduanes State Colleges.

Her researches have likewise won numerous international, national, regional, and zonal awards, as well as fund grants such as the International Foundation for Science (IFS) in Stockholm, Sweden.

In the course of her various administrative designations, she has drafted numerous proposals, formulated manuals, guidelines, and mechanics which later served as bases and groundwork in the research, extension, production and instruction functions of the CSC.

She also spearheaded the establishment of institutional programs in research and production as well as in the conduct of feasibility studies that merited financial support from numerous funding institutions. (MAL/EAB/GSRubio-CSU/PIA5)