Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban yesterday ordered the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) to become the linch pin of a biotechnological revolution in the country in his bid to make farmers and fishermen earn more money and maintain the country's food security.

In a speech at the BAR's 19th anniversary yesterday, Panganiban laid the marching orders for the bureau to lead the way to prosperity in the agriculture and fishery sectors.

Panganiban credited BAR for boosting the quality and quantity of agricultural and fishery yields, modernizing production and implementing modern biotechnological advances all over the country.

He pledged that the Department of Agriculture (DA) would "mobilize, upgrade, and disseminate knowledge and technologies for increased productivity."

Panganiban also vowed to strengthen Mindanao and the North Luzon Agribusiness Qaudrangle and improve productivity in central Philippines, which is where fish production is most intense.

At the same time, he promised to reduce red tape and cut the cost of business for all stakeholders.

The DA chief said the department would be more result-oriented while streamlining its regulatory functions to give leeway for the fuller play of market forces. Stress will be given to disseminating the benefits of research and biotechnology down to the grassroots.

Panganiban said the DA would "consolidate our services to reduce costs and increase the pool of capital for new investments that mean more jobs, greater yields, and more growth."

He tasked the BAR to lead the National Technology Commercialization Program, improve the research extension system "through community-based participatory action research," and strengthen collaboration with local governments and the academe. (Marvyn N. Benaning)

Panganiban also noted the 99 new projects undertaken in line with the National Regional Integrated Research and Development Extension Agenda and Program.

He said the BAR must be at the forefront for advancing the DA's information technology program, building more efficient institutional networks for the agricultural research community, and improving the intellectual property management system