The Department of Science and Technology- National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) will hold a back-to-back training at the Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) in Baler, Aurora on August 21-23, 2017.  Day 1 of the workshop will be on Writing Research Proposal for selected ASCOT faculty, researchers, and students studying animal science, veterinary medicine, and agriculture. Day 2 will feature the Small Ruminant Production and Health Seminar with Rabies Awareness for selected members of local government units who are into small-hold production of small ruminants (goats).

The writing workshop aims to equip the ASCOT faculty and researchers in developing research proposals viable for funding and with great potential to deliver new knowledge and strong policy recommendations that would provide some innovations to the small ruminant industry.  Meanwhile, the seminar on small ruminants aims to provide small-hold producers with science- and research-based information on how to improve production via herd health management, and disease prevention and control, including herbal medicine, ethnoveterinary practices, and organic goat farming.

The trainig is organized by the NRCP-Division of Veterinary Medicine (NRCP Division XIII) through its chair Dr. Claro N. Mingalaalong in collaboration with ASCOT. Serving as lecturers in the trainig are Division XIII members, namely: Drs. Carmencita D. Mateo and Gemerlyn G. Garcia; and CLSU College of Veterinary Science and Medicine Professors, Drs. Virginia M. Venturina and Noraine P. Medina.

Other officials to deliver inspirational messages are Dr. Doracie B. Zoleta-Nantes, ASCOT president; Dr. Ma. Luz F. Cabatan, ASCOT vice-president for academic affairs; Dr. Oscar C. Barawid, Jr., ASCOT vice-president for administration; and Dr. Artemio B. Alcoy, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development of the Mariano Marcos State University in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.