RAISE Caraga Conducts Year 2 Annual Progress Review Meeting to Consolidate Program Accomplishments

The Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Program in Caraga successfully conducted its Year 2 Annual Progress Review Meeting on November 18, 2025, at the CSU HERO Learning Commons Board Room. The activity gathered project leaders, technical assistants, development officers, and staff from all four component projects, along with representatives from partner institutions NEMSU and ASSCAT, who participated face-to-face in the deliberations.

The review aimed to assess the overall progress of the RAISE Program from June to October 2025 and ensure alignment of remaining deliverables for the final extension period covering October to December 2025. Each of the four projects—Project 1 (IPTBM), Project 2 (ABH), Project 3 (ATBI), and Project 4 (KMH)—presented their Year 2 accomplishments, financial performance, challenges encountered, and pending tasks.

Prof. Kenneth L. Ciudad, RAISE Program Leader, opened the meeting with an overview of the activity’s objectives and emphasized the importance of consolidating accomplishments for the Year 2 completion reports. This was followed by individual project presentations and an in-depth discussion segment in which participants clarified deliverables, reviewed documentation requirements, and aligned remaining activities.

Key Points and Highlights 

During the presentations, each project received comments and recommendations to guide the completion of their remaining tasks. Some of the key points raised include:

• Project 1A – NEMSU IPTBM: Completion of remaining commercialization agreement deliverables, provision of MOVs, and presentation of planned activities for the remaining budget.

• Project 1B – ASSCAT IPTBM: Coordination with KMH on copyright processes, revision of product testing labels, and inclusion of PCAARRD and RAISE logos in materials.

• Project 2 – ABH: Revision of financial reporting format, submission of final pre-commercialization reports, and proper classification of trainings attended.

• Project 3 – ATBI: Follow-up on ATBI promotional video, preparation of TLA for BlackGold, clarification on copyright justifications, and completion of MOVs for incubatees.

• Project 4 – KMH: Finalization of RAISE Caraga promotional materials, preparation of RTMS activity documents, and accounting of collaborating components in events.

• Project 1 – Regional IPTBM: Urgent meeting on Advisory Council signatory revisions, review of FOR classifications, updates on TLA requirements, and refinement of report entries such as copyrighted works and pitched technologies.

Active Participation from CSU, NEMSU, and ASSCAT

The meeting saw robust participation from the entire RAISE Caraga team. Thirty participants attended onsite, including project leaders, research staff, and support personnel from Caraga State University. Representatives from Northeastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU) and Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) were also present onsite, contributing to the discussions and aligning their outputs with the consolidated program requirements.

Moving Toward Program Completion 

The activity concluded with a synthesis of commitments and next steps, highlighting the need for updated reports, harmonized documentation, and timely submission of remaining deliverables. Project teams agreed to conduct follow-up coordination meetings and finalize all required outputs in preparation for the Year 2 completion reports for submission to DOST-PCAARRD.

With all component teams actively working toward their respective targets, the Year 2 Annual Progress Review Meeting served as an important platform to strengthen collaboration, clarify expectations, and ensure the successful completion of the RAISE Program’s Year 2 implementation.