Philippine Native Animal Development Program

Congratulations po Doc Lilian,👩‍🔬 We are so proud of you!
From your PNAD family 🐃

Cryobank head is 'The Asian Scientist 100'

Dr. Lilian Villamor, newly-conferred Career Scientist I of DA-Philippine Carabao Center, was honored in the Asian Scientist 100 list last August 18.

On its 10th edition, the Asian Scientist 100 features honorees in their roles as researchers and leaders, who have spent their careers pushing the boundaries of science and protecting people and the environment.

Among the 100 Asian honorees, Dr. Villamor is one of the four Filipino scientists who was recognized in the said list this year.

Since joining the DA-PCC in 2014, Dr. Villamor has been instrumental in advancing the operations of the Cryobank Section. Her efforts included drafting DA Administrative Order (AO) No. 31, Series of 2021, which declared the DA-PCC Cryobank as the National Livestock Cryobank (NLC), and Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 04, Series of 2022, which detailed the implementing guidelines for the NLC. Her contributions also extended to developing protocols for the collection, cryopreservation, and databanking of animal genetic resources (AnGR), facilitating access to AnGR, and conducting awareness campaigns.

Dr. Villamor led a research project under the DA Biotech program that revealed the genetic diversity of the Philippine carabao. She also spearheaded a team of young researchers on two national projects funded by the DA Bureau of Agricultural Research and the National Livestock Program. These projects focus on optimizing the cryopreservation of genetic resources from swine, cattle, and goats for conservation and management at NLC.

Additionally, she received the Prof. Yoo Hang Kim Young Women Scientists Award from the Association of the Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA) and was one of the eight awardees in the 9th Filipino Faces of Biotechnology from the DA-Biotechnology Program Office in 2024.

Dr. Edwin C. Atabay, Scientist II of DA-PCC, was also named in the same list last 2023 for his work in intensified reproductive management, which promotes technological advancements to improve the reproductive efficiency of livestock.

According to the list, the researcher must have either won a national or international award for their research in the past year, made an important scientific discovery, or shown strong leadership in education or industry to be included on the list. [By: France Joseph O. Pascual]

Photo by DA-BPO

𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 (𝐏𝐍𝐀𝐃) 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌
𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 (𝙏𝙒𝙂) 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙁𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 (𝙍𝙁𝙋𝙨) 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥

July 21–25, 2025 | Azalea Hotels and Residences, Baguio City
Theme: “Uniting Regional Efforts for Philippine Native Animal Development (PNAD) Program Success”

The PNAD Program TWG and RFPs successfully convened for a five-day meeting and workshop aimed at strengthening regional coordination and advancing initiatives for the conservation and improvement of Philippine native animals.
The event was honored by the presence of:
Asst. Secretary for Ruminant Livestock, 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗖. 𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲, DVM
Asst. Secretary for Swine and Poultry, 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗝. 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮
Officer-in-Charge, BAI Director, 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗣. 𝗗𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻, DVM
A video message was also delivered by:
Undersecretary for Livestock, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲 𝗝. 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮, DVM, who emphasized:
“Ang mga native animals ay buhay at kabuhayan ng libo-libong maliliit na magsasaka...
Ang PNAD ay kaakibat ng layunin [ng pamahalaan] tungo sa isang agrikulturang makabago ngunit makatao, episyente ngunit hindi iniwan ang maliliit... Hinihiling ko ang inyong buong dedikasyon at pagkakaisa. Hindi madali ang ating gawain, ngunit sa ating pagkakaisa, pananalig sa layunin at tunay na malasakit sa bayan, walang imposible...

Mabuhay ang PNAD at Mabuhay ang Magsasakang Pilipino”
The Regional Focal Persons presented key updates, including:
Animal Inventory, Adopting Enterprises, Distribution Models, Programs/Activities/Projects and Budget Allocation, R&D Initiatives, Draft PNAD Roadmap 2025–2034, and Issues, Concerns, and Recommendations
The TWG provided valuable feedback and recommendations to guide the next steps of the program.
Expert presentations were also delivered on vital PNAD topics:
-𝗗𝗿. 𝗟𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗣. 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿 (PCC): “Sustainable Animal Genetic Resources Through Cryobank”
-𝗠𝘀. 𝗠𝗮. 𝗝𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗘. 𝗖𝘂𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗮 (WMSU): “ZAMPEN Native Chicken R&D Updates”
-𝗠𝘀. 𝗞𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 (DA-BAR): “Proposal Submission, Screening, Approval, and Funding”
-𝗠𝗿. 𝗔𝗹𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗼 (DOST-PCAARRD): “Guidelines on the Implementation of the Philippine Native Animal Breeder Farm Certification Program”
-𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗼 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 (UPLB): “Molecular Studies on Native Animals”
-𝗗𝗿. 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗖. 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗗𝗩𝗠, 𝗠𝗦𝗰 (DA-BAI): “Nucleus Farm for Native Animals”

The TWG also convened to assess workshop outcomes, discuss ways forward, and identify urgent action points to support the PNAD Program’s goals.

The activity concluded with a field visit to the Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (BABRC), showcasing their native chicken and dairy farm.

𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨.
𝙈𝙮 𝙒𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝, 𝙈𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚.