SLSU’s New Rubber Research and Training Center

SLSU-San Juan – SLSU held the turn-over of its new Rubber Research and Training Center located in in its San Juan campus in August 7, 2014. "It's currently the only rubber research center in Eastern Visayas," said SLSU-San Juan Research Development and Extension (RDE) director Gary Garcia of the newly turned-over Rubber Research and Training Center. "Of the ten SUCs in the Region, only SLSU right now, is into rubber." SLSU-San Juan also operates a Rubber Techno Demo Farm. "We planted 900 budded seedlings. We expect to harvest by December 2015," said Garcia of the 3.2 hectare Demo Farm which was planted to rubber in 2010, and planted with another 900 last year.  “We also have about 4,000 non-budded seedlings,” said Garcia. The Rubber Research and Training Center is funded by the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Agricultural Research through the Institutional Development Grant.

SLSU's Hinunangan campus, also operates a Rubber Budwood Garden. “We have about a maximum number of 5,000 budded seedlings and around 4,000 non-budded seedlings,” said SLSU-Hinunangan RDE director Wade Lim. SLSU-Hinunangan’s Budwood Garden is a fast producer of budded seedlings since the Rubber Budwood Garden exists for the harvesting of the bud eye.   

(L-R): SLSU President Gloria Reyes, Vice President for RDE Prose Ivy Yepes, Engr. Jimmy Palma of the Department of Agriculture VIII who was the speaker of the turnover ceremony representing DA-BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazar,  SLSU-San Juan RDE Director Gary Garcia and San Juan Campus Administrator Eden Garces. 

A visit to the Rubber Budwood Garden in SLSU-Hinunangan in March, by visitors and speakers of SLSU’s International Research Congress and Business Forum on Rubber and Freshwater Prawn on March 5-7, 2014.