nation Building

• Harmonized National R&D Agenda (HNRDA) 2017-2022 by the Department of Science and Technology, National Conference on Research, Innovation and Extension, November 23, 2017
• Objectives of the HNRDA

  • Enhancing the Social Fabric ("Malasakit")
  • Inequality-Reducing Transformation ("Pagbabago")
  • Increasing Growth Potential ("Patuloy na Pag-unlad")
  • Enabling and Supportive Economic Environment
  • Foundations for Sustainable Development
• 10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda of President Duterte Administration


  • Continue and maintain current macroeconomic policies, including fiscal, monetary, and trade policies
  • Institute progressive tax reform and more effective tax collection, indexing taxes to inflation. A tax reform package will be submitted to Congress by September 2016
  • Increase competitiveness and the ease of doing business. This effort will draw upon successful models used to attract business to local cities (e.g., Davao) and pursue the relaxation of the Constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership, except as regards land ownership, in order to attract foreign direct investment
  • Accelerate annual infrastructure spending to account for 5% of GDP, with Public-Private Partnerships playing a key role
  • Promote rural and value chain development toward increasing agricultural and rural enterprise productivity and rural tourism
  • Ensure security of land tenure to encourage investments, and address bottlenecks in land management and titling agencies
  • Invest in human capital development, including health and education systems, and match skills and training to meet the demand of businesses and the private sector
  • Promote science, technology, and the creative arts to enhance innovation and creative capacity towards self-sustaining, inclusive development
  • Improve social protection programs, including the government's Conditional Cash Transfer program, to protect the poor against instability and economic shocks
  • Strengthen implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law to enable especially poor couples to make informed choices on financial and family planning
• NIBRA Programs


  • TUBIG Program: Tubig ay Buhayin at Ingatan (Water Security)
  • SAPAT Program: Saganang Pagkain Para sa Lahat (Food and Nutrition Security)
  • LIKAS Program: Likas Yaman sa Kalusugan (Health Sufficiency)
  • ALERT Program: Alternative Energy Research Trends (Clean Energy)
  • SAKLAW Program: Saklolo sa Lawa (Sustainable Communities)
  • ATIN Program: Ang Tinig Natin (Inclusive Nation-Building)
• Priority Areas for NIBRA in 2017 and 2018


  • Sustainable communities: Lakes and wetlands (SAKLAW Program), Carrying capacity models and metrics, Water quality parameters and baseline studies, Resource assessment and valuation, Resource utilization and management, Socio-economics and policy studies
  • Re-engineering the Philippines for inclusive nation-building (ATIN Program): Retrieval and documentation of traditional arts and cultural heritage, Indigenous peoples, Marginalized groups, Early human life and civilizations in the Philippines
  • Health Sufficiency: Fundamental and taxonomic studies on potential sources of natural products in various ecosystems (LIKAS program: marine sediments, mangroves, mined out areas, rivers, rare ecosystems)
• Harmonized National R&D Agenda for Health 2017-2022

  • Diagnostics
  • Drug discovery and development
  • Functional foods
  • Hospital equipment and biomedical devices
  • Information and communication technology for health
  • Dengue
  • Nutrition and food quality and safety
  • Disaster risk reduction
  • Climate Change Adaptation
  • Genomics/Molecular technology (Platform technology across research priorities)
• The AANR sector supports the use of advanced and emerging technologies such as biotechnology, genomics, bioinformatics, nanotechnology, nuclear technology, space technology, electronics and automation, and ICT as R&D tools to find S&T solutions to AANR problems or develop new products with significant potential impact to the sector
• Research Priorities for Diagnostics

  • 2018: Proof of concept for screening, confirmatory and prognosis for 13 priority diseases (tropical; malignant neoplasms; emerging infectious diseases; neurodegenerative and mental health disorders; diseases associated with multi-drug resistance; metabolic diseases, diabetes and other endocrine-related diseases; auto-immune/immunologic diseases and deficiencies; cerebrovascular; diseases of the cardiovascular system; GUT, GIT and hepatitis; respiratory; and, tuberculosis)
  • 2019-2022: Target identification and validation, prototype development, laboratory performance testing and field testing of diagnostic kits for 13 priority diseases
• Research Priorities for Molecular Technologies for Health

  • Omic technologies for health and wellness
  • Bioinformatics and systems biology
  • Novel technologies for therapeutics
  • Biobanking, data mining and population studies for human health, ethnicity and forensic applications
• The AANR sector supports

  • Organic agriculture
  • Halal food production
  • Food safety and traceability initiatives
  • Development of genetically modified organisms as long as it is compliant with biosafety rules and regulations
• Research Priorities for Drug Discovery and Development

  • 2018: Cultural management/propagation of priority organisms, Development of standardized herbal drugs, Formulation of standardized herbal drugs for platelet enhancement related to dengue, inflammation, diabetes, gout, hypertension, Pre-clinical drug development, Bioactive hits isolation from marine and terrestrial organisms for identified priority diseases, Development and/or validation of standard processes and protocols for various stages of drug discovery and development
  • 2019-2022: Pre-clinical evaluation of standardized herbal drugs for platelet enhancement related to dengue, inflammation, diabetes, gout, hypertension, Identification and screening for next set of priority plants for formulation for identified priority diseases
• The AANR sector supports Farm Mechanization, as mandated by RA 10601, otherwise known as the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law, to modernize the sector and increase agricultural productivity, efficiency and competitiveness
• AANR Sectors


  • Agriculture
  • Aquatic
  • Natural Resources
  • Environment
• Technologies for health and wellness

  • Bioinformatics and systems biology
  • Novel technologies for therapeutics
  • Biobanking, data mining and population studies for human health, ethnicity and forensic applications
• Agriculture Subsectors


  • Crops
  • Livestock
  • Abaca and other fiber crops
  • Coconut
  • Rice
  • Corn and Other Grains
  • Fruit Crops
  • Legumes
  • Natural Sources of Dye
  • Pili and Cashew
  • Ornamentals
  • Medicinal Plants
  • Plantation Crops
  • Rootcrops
  • Sericulture and Apiculture
  • Vegetables
• Livestock Subsectors


  • Swine
  • Goat
  • Sheep
  • Cattle (dairy and meat)
  • Carabao (dairy and meat)
  • Rabbit
  • Chicken (meat and egg)
  • Duck (meat and egg)
  • Quail
  • Native animals
• Drug discovery and development 2018

  • Cultural management/propagation of priority organisms
  • Development of standardized herbal drugs
  • Formulation of standardized herbal drugs for platelet enhancement related to dengue, inflammation, diabetes, gout, hypertension
  • Pre-clinical drug development
  • Bioactive hits isolation from marine and terrestrial organisms for identified priority diseases
  • Development and/or validation of standard processes and protocols for various stages of drug discovery and development
• Aquatic Subsectors


  • Inland
  • Mangrove crab
  • Milkfish and other brackishwater fishes
  • Mussel
  • Tilapia and other freshwater fishes
  • Shrimp
  • Aquafeeds
  • Marine
  • Abalone
  • Blue Swimming Crab
  • Cephalopods
  • Oyster and other shellfish
  • Sardines
  • Sea cucumber
  • Seaweeds
  • Tuna
• Drug discovery and development 2019 - 2022

  • Pre-clinical drug development
  • Lead optimization of candidates from marine and terrestrial organisms for identified priority diseases
  • Development and/or validation of standard processes and protocols for various stages of drug discovery and development
• Natural Resources and Environment Subsectors

  • Timber
  • Non-Timber (Bamboo, Rattan, Sago, Tiger grass, Vines and other non-timber)
  • Biodiversity (Ecosystem, Microbial Flora and Fauna, Ecotourism)
• Functional foods


  Food or food components that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrient function
• AANR Agenda: Commodity Focus

  • Germplasm evaluation, conservation, utilization and management
  • Varietal improvement and selection
  • Production of good quality seeds and planting materials
  • Development/optimization of seed production protocols
  • Establishment of sustainable seed system
  • Cultural Management Practices
  • Soil health, nutrient and water management
  • Development of biofertilizers and soil fertility enhancers
  • Development of eco-friendly pest and disease management and control strategies
  • Development of crop disease diagnostic kits/techniques and disease management protocols
  • Organic agriculture
• Functional foods 2018


  • Safety assessment of Mangosteen, Malunggay, Sweet potato varieties, and Ginger
  • Characterization of Guyabano (leaves, fruit, etc.) Tiesa, Yacon, Sago, Pili, Lato, Red seaweed, and Edible mushroom
• AANR Agenda: Crop Production

  • Crop production systems research
  • Smart farming approaches
  • Off-season production and cultivation
  • Development of climate-resilient technologies
  • Decision support systems
  • Postharvest, processing and product development
• Functional foods 2019 - 2022

  • Establishment of health benefits and product development of Mangosteen, Malunggay, Sweet potato varieties, and Ginger
  • Safety assessment, establishment of health benefits and product development of Guyabano (leaves, fruit, etc.) Tiesa, Yacon, Sago, Pili, Lato, Red seaweed, and Edible mushroom
  • Characterization, safety assessment, establishment of health benefits, and product development of Okra, Saluyot, Purple Yam, pigmented rice, Duhat, Lipote, Aratiles, Bignay, Tanglad, and Pandan
• AANR Agenda: Livestock


  • Breed development and genetic improvement (for meat, dairy and draft)
  • Reproductive biotechniques for priority livestock species
  • Nutrition, feeds and feeding system
  • Conservation and improvement of native animals
  • Vaccine, biologics and diagnostics development
  • Detection of chemical residues and anti-microbial resistance
  • Production and management decision support systems
  • Product development and processing
• Hospital equipment and biomedical devices 2018

  • Design and development of hospital equipment and biomedical devices for respiratory failure support, artificial body part replacement (prosthesis), rehabilitation medicine, minimally-invasive surgical procedures, eye health
• Hospital equipment and biomedical devices 2019 - 2022

  • Hemodialysis (consumables), orthopedic surgery, post-operative care, spinal disorders, wound care, primary health care, PWD assistive devices, hospital waste management, personal protective equipment
• ICT for health 2018

  • Public health surveillance, health intelligence system, ICT-enabled medical devices and services, software and applications
• AANR Agenda: Aquatic


  • Application of genomics in the study of diseases of aquatic species, improving fish resistance to climate change; molecular phylogenetics; population genetics
  • New cultivable species for culture
  • Development/Refinement of culture systems (broodstock management, hatchery, nursery, grow-out)
  • Fish health, disease diagnostics and disease management
  • Nutrition, feeds and feeding system
  • Postharvest handling, processing and new product development
  • Mechanization and automated systems for feeding, water and culture management, and post production
  • Fishkill warning and mitigation systems and environmental management for sustainable aquaculture
  • Management of fisheries
• ICT for health 2019 - 2022


  • Monitoring proximity to predict possible epidemics, verbal autopsy system, applications development for online nutrition services, automatic BMI assessment
• AANR Agenda: Forestry


  • Development of sustainable management practices
  • Development of HYVs of priority timber species with superior traits
  • Production protocols for the propagation of quality timber and non-timber forest planting materials
  • Development of sustainable harvesting and postharvest techniques/technologies and marketing strategies for timber and non-timber forest species/products
• Dengue 2018


  • Molecular characterization of mosquito vectors, dengue outbreak prediction, insecticide resistance survey, guidelines for the use of ovitraps, development of system for yearly monitoring of prevailing dengue serotypes
• Dengue 2019-2022


  • Epidemiological and molecular survey of mosquito borne viruses, genome editing of Aedes aegypti, gene silencing mosquito spray, intensive profiling of dengue trends using rapid diagnostics
• AANR Agenda: Environment


  • Sustainable utilization, conservation and management of biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems
  • Sustainable watershed management and utilization
  • Management and rehabilitation of problem, degraded and polluted agricultural soils through remediation
  • Development of high value products from agricultural and forest wastes
  • Strategies/decision management tools for climate change resilient environment
  • Resource and ecosystems assessment and monitoring
  • Habitat management for fishery and ecosystem sustainability
  • Marine environmental management (to include Harmful Algal Blooms, coastal integrity/erosion, fish kills and eutrophication)
  • Innovative management systems for unique landscapes and ecosystems
• Food quality and safety


  Assurance that food will not cause harm to the consumer when prepared or eaten according to its intended use
• Major nutrition problems in the country

  • Micronutrient deficiencies, macronutrient deficiencies, overnutrition, nutrition related diseases
• AANR Agenda: Climate Change

  • Mitigation and adaptation studies (including protected agriculture, vertical agriculture)
  • Development of smart farming approaches (including organic agriculture, integrated farming, ICT application) and other climate-resilient agricultural production technologies
  • Development of strategies/decision management tools for climate change resilient environment (e.g. farm diversification)
  • Enhancing sustainable development through lifescape-landscape approach
• The AANR Agenda embodies PCAARRD's S&T agenda for various agriculture, aquatic and natural resources commodities
• Nutrition and food quality and safety 2018

  • Food fortification, development/revision of nutrition tools and standards, nutritional guidelines, food exchange list, body composition assessment, nutritional assessment and monitoring, in-depth and correlation studies, nutrition surveys, designing nutrition intervention programs, nutrition delivery system for complementary feeding promotion, enhancement of food composition database for dietary exposure assessment, exposure assessment of selected nutrients, food contaminants, and food additives in commonly consumed foods