The right to privacy is a fundamental human right. Recognizing this, the Southern Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC), hereafter referred to as the “Consortium,” is committed to safeguarding the privacy of its stakeholders. SMAARRDEC upholds data privacy principles and employs standard security measures in the collection, processing, disclosure, and retention of personal data, in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (R.A. 10173), its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), and the issuances of the National Privacy Commission.
This Data Privacy Statement (the “SDPS”) outlines SMAARRDEC’s general practices in data collection and processing as it pertains to website visitors, partner agencies, researchers, and other stakeholders. Any specific privacy policies developed for particular platforms or services under SMAARRDEC shall be consistent with this SDPS.
SMAARRDEC collects only the minimum necessary personal data to fulfill its mandates related to research, development, extension, and coordination across partner institutions. The types of data collected through its website and services may include:
In research or project implementation contexts, sensitive personal information may be collected in accordance with ethical research standards and upon informed consent.
Personal data collected through the SMAARRDEC website and its platforms serve legitimate purposes including, but not limited to:
SMAARRDEC values confidentiality and does not disclose personal data to third parties without prior consent, unless required by law or with due authorization. When necessary, data may be shared with affiliated institutions or third-party service providers who are bound by confidentiality and data protection agreements.
Internally, any access or sharing of data is governed by official procedures to ensure that data are used solely for legitimate and defined purposes.
The Consortium employs physical, administrative, and technical safeguards to protect stored personal data. Access is limited to authorized personnel who are trained in responsible data handling practices and who are bound by confidentiality obligations.
Personal data are retained only as long as necessary to fulfill their intended purpose or to comply with legal and institutional requirements. Once the purpose has been served, SMAARRDEC ensures secure and confidential disposal of such data.