Dr. Eric James P. Talagon and Miss Joy Lyn Cabarles agriculture faculty of ISAT U Leon Campus actively participated in the Coconut Hybridization Program-Regional Information Caravan and Proposal Writeshop for Region VI and VII held in Reyna’s Haven and Garden, New Calceta St., Cogon District, Tagbilaran City, Bohol on June 22, 2023. The highlights of the said event were the introduction to the coconut hybridization program, coconut farmers and industry status, orientation on DOST guidelines for the application and proposal packaging, and CHPRD priority projects; walkthrough: DOST PCAARRD forms, the proposal write shop,  and synthesis facilitated by DOST-PCAARRD Crop Research Division team and the Philippine Coconut Authority regional representative from regions 6 and 7. The workshop was participated by the different State Universities and Colleges, private universities, Local Government Units, and Provincial Agriculture Offices in both regions.

       In addition, participation in CHP Program-Regional Information Caravan and Proposal Writeshop updated the participants with the research and development initiatives and gaps in coconut hybridization in the region. Furthermore, the said write shop fostered research collaborations with other research institutions and opened the opportunity for the participants to submit a capsule research proposal on Coconut-based farming systems (intercropping and livestock integration) for evaluation by the Crop Research Division and for funding by DOST-PCAARRD under CHP. The objectives of the said event were to: 1. disseminate information on Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) specifically on CHP Research Component; 2. identify research and development initiatives and gaps in coconut hybridization in the region; and 3. solicit project proposals on coconut hybridization from R&D institutions in the region.