The Birth of SMAARRDEC

In the late eighties, Research and Development (R&D) institutions and organizations in Southern Mindanao saw the need to establish a unified regional research management group in Region XI which would lead towards effective services for Research and Development programs in agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources in Davao Region. Orchestrated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) with a council of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) with the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), nine (9) original member agencies heed the call to adopt a network-like alliance in addressing the growing concerns and interests on sustainable development and technological advancements. Bound together with shared duties of planning, coordinating, implementing, and managing research and development program in the region, such alliance borne the forging of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among nine (9) organic members. 

August 13, 1987—This day marked the creation of a consortium called, Southern Mindanao Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC) with the Department of Agriculture as its base agency. Previously known as Southeastern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (SEMARRDEC), its name has been changed a year after to Southern Mindanao Agriculture Resources Research and Development (SMARRDEC) to address the confusion in phonetics brought by the establishment of Region XI’s Central Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CEMARRDEC); also, when members conformed with NEDA’s regional nomenclature. It was, then, further morphed to accommodate various integral sectors in aquatic resources to which finally bears the name it was known today. SMAARRDEC’s nine (9) original membership encompassed the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), Department of Science & Technology (DOST) XI, National Economic & Development Authority (NEDA) XI, Philippine Council for Agriculture Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), Department of Agriculture (DA-RFU XI), Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR-RDS) XI, University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), Philippine Coconut Authority-Davao Research Center (PCA-DRC) and Twin Rivers Research Center (TRRC). 

Since its inception in 1987, SMAARRDEC has been governed by a Regional Research and Development Coordinating Council (RRDCC) which is the policy-making body of the consortium composed of the heads of member-agencies. Together with the RRDCC are the five (5) other working bodies pursuing the R&D activities. This includes the Consortium Secretaria which is responsible in administering, coordinating, and managing the activities within the Consortium; the Regional Research and Development Group (RRDG) as the technical arm that oversee the ongoing and completed R&D projects; Regional Techno Gabay Program (RTGP) which is responsible for the technology promotion and commercialization activities of the Consortium; Regional Communications Office (RACO) as the communication arm on technological transfer; and Regional Management Information Systems (RMIS) which maneuvers information communications and technology (ICT) concerns. 

On December 11, 2002, fifteen years after its launch, the Consortium made a landmark decision to transfer the hosting of the Consortium from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit XI (DA-RFU XI) to the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) effective April 2003. Coupled with this transition is the change of Director: from Dr. Rufino Odtojan to Dr. Lourdes C. Generalao. From nine (9) agencies collaborating to manage and implement research attuned to the development efforts of the region, the consortium extends its circle over the years and now shares the flame towards twenty-eight (28) active and equally steadfast member agencies (16 are R&D implementing agencies; 12 are non-implementing agencies), complementing research and development resources in various sectors in helping disadvantaged communities and assisting industries in research and development.