DR. BENNY A. PALMA

The First President of ASCOT (1994 - 2001)

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

DR. BENNY A. PALMA was born on May 23, 1949 in Lemery, Iloilo. He is married to Prof. MEDELINA LIBERO-PALMA, also of Iloilo. They have four children, Carol Joy, Benny Jr., Hine Marae, and Lovella Chris. Prior to his appointment as the president of ASCOT, Dr. Palma worked as the Director of Research and Development Center at the Aklan State College of Agriculture (ASCA) in Banga, Aklan from January 3, 1993 to February 7, 1994. He conceptualized and established the Research and development Center of ASCA as well as the Farming System Development Research Station.

Re-appointment of Dr. Benny A. Palma as president of ASCOT from August 9, 2000 to August 8, 2004 held at the Cafe Med Restaurant, Mandaluyong City, August 10, 2000. In picture are Rep. Angara-Castillo, Hon. Hadja Roqaiya VR. Maglangit, Hon. Allan Jose J. Villarante, Dir. Mary Ann P. Sayoc, Dir. Oskar D. Balbastro, and Carol Joy L. Palma.

The very first president of the College is a true believer in faculty and staff empowerment. Important and relevant duties pertinent to the administration of ASCOT always involve the participation of personnel, faculty, and student representatives. Dr. Palma is also strongly advocating transparency in various businesses of the College for a smooth transaction vis a vis the delivery of service he and the College offer.

Aside from his focus on Research, Extension, and Production, as clearly illustrated by the growing projects of the College directed to community improvement and provincial thrusts in food security and agricultural productivity, Dr. Palma values trainings and scholarships for qualified personnel and faculty of ASCOT. It is part of his leadership principles to put specific impetus on the improvement in the delivery of instruction and services of the College - best attained if all the concerned individuals comprising this educational institution will be equipped with knowledge and skills addressing the needs of its target clientele.

Dr. Palma is a committed workhorse for ASCOT. In the first six years of this College, he has transformed the kind of education known to this side of the country into one that does not only dwell on instruction inside the four corners of the classroom, but also as a system involved with the genuine development of the countryside through active involvement and participatory work in communities of the province of Aurora. His dedication to his job, the College, and benefactors like Sec. Edgardo J. Angara is a testament to his being the best man for the position, the best person to start up the engines of this machine that is ASCOT, as it continually move on uplifting the living standards of the people of the province of Aurora.

EDUCATIONAL PROFILE

Dr. Palma holds a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Lincoln College, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He likewise completed his MS in Horticulture also at Lincoln College, with Second Class Honors, under a Colombo Scholarship grant. He finished his B.S. in Agriculture, Major in Crop Science under a Roseberry Fellowship at the Central Philippine University (CPU) in 1973.

OTHER EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Post-Graduate Diploma in Horticulture, Lincoln College, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Thirty (30) units leading to Master of Arts in Education, Major in Science, University of Iloilo, Iloilo City.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

AWARDS

Award of Recognition in Support to the Innovations, Adherance and Implementation of Civil Service Law and Rules awarded by Civil Service Commission, September 27, 1999

Certificate of appreciation for his Active Participation during the Consultative Meeting among SCU Presidents and for his Valuable Contribution in the Formulation of Strategies for the SCUs to Effectively Implement the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan and fullt harness R&D for Global Competitiveness, PCARRD, April 30, 1998

Award of Recognition in Grateful Recognition of his Deep Advocacy for a Strong Civil Service and Adherance to the Tenets of Good Governance to the Attainment of a Highly Ethical, Competent and Empowered Bureaucracy, awarded by Civil Service Commission, September 30, 1997.

Outstanding Educator of the Year 1997, awarded by Pre-Media Inc., May 25, 1997

Outstanding Performance and Exemplary Leadership in the pursuit of Academic Excellence and Effective Implementation of the Program Thrust in Education during the school year 1985-1986, awarded by DECS Region VI-Western Visayas, Iloilo City, April 4, 1986.

Merit Excellence for active involvement in the accomplishment of objectives of the 1988 Western Visayas Regional youth Science Camp (RYSC) sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, Iloilo City, April 17, 1988.

Outstanding Performance and Exemplary Leadership in the Implementation of Agricultural Technology Education (ATEP) from 1990 to a992, awarded by the AKlan State College of Agriculture, March 30, 1996.

Outstanding Performance and Exemplary Leadership in the Pursuit of Academic Excellence and Effective Implementation of the Pilot Pi�a Fiber and Cloth Production Project from 1998 to 1990, awarded by the Aklan State College of Agriculture, December 31, 1990.

Outstanding Performance and Exemplary Leadership in the Pursuit of Academic Excellence and Effective Implementation of the Regional Seed Production Center (RSPC) Project (1985-1992), awarded by the Aklan State College of Agriculture, April 4, 1992.

Outstanding Performance and Exemplary Service as Organizer and Implementor of the Wateshed Rehabilitation and Reforestation Project at Barangay Sibalew, Banga, Aklan from 1989 to 1990, December 31, 1990.

Outstanding Performance and Exemplary Service as Organizer and Implemetor of the Pi�a Fiber Production Projects at Barangay Feliciano, Minicipality of Balete, Province of Aklan from 1989 to 1990, December 31, 1990

CONSULTANCY

Congressional Oversight Committee on Education, February 1998

Agricultural Commission, January 1997 to June 1998

Agricultural Technology Education Project (ATEP-EDPITAF), April 6, 1991 to December 31, 1992

Conceptualized the Five-Year Farm Development Plans and installed laboratory farms of ISU-Garita Campus, Cabagan, Isabela, ISAC Ilocos Norte, WLAC San Marcelino, Zambales, RCAT, Tanay, Rizal and PNAC, Aborlan, Palawan.

Conceptualized and established the Barangay Development Laboratories of the following universities and colleges; Isabela State University, Ilocos Sur Agricultural College, Western Luzon Agricultural College, Rizal College, Panay State Polytechnic College, Southern samar Agricultural College, Bohol Agricultural College and Katipunan National Agricultural School of Katipunan, Northern Mindanao Institute of Science and Technology, University of Southern Philippines and Upi Agricultural School of Maguindanao.

Pamplona Plantation Corporation, Pamplona, Negros Oriental, September 5, 1993 to December 31, 1993

Conceptualized and designed the Ten-Year Farm Development Plan of the 1,000 hectare Pamplona Plantation Corporation in Negros Oriental.

GMA Farm, Nasugbu, Batangas, March 1990 to the present.

Designed and established Gravity Water System and Integrated Farming system Model.

Pi�a Fiber and Cloth Project, April 5 to June 5, 1990. Department of Trade and Industry, Kalibo, Aklan.

Conceptualized and established Model Pi�a Fiber Farm Production  of Barangay Feliciano, Balete, Aklan.

Trained farmers, rural women on Pi�a Fiber Production, Extraction, Processing and Marketing of pi�a cloth.

Initiated the establishment of cooperatives for pi�a fiber producers and weavers in Barangay Feliciano, Balete and Barangay Mambog, Banga, Aklan.

PARTICIPATION AS LECTURE/RESOURCE PERSON IN WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS AND CONFERENCES

Panay Expo Caravan '88, May 5 - June 6, 1998, Pototan, Iloilo, Roxas City, Capiz, Kalibo, Aklan and San Jose, Antique.

Leadership Training for the Officers of Aklan Agricultural College (AAC) Science Club, July 11, 1988.

1988 Western Visayas Regional Youth Science Camp, AAC, Banga, Aklan, March 16-22, 1987.

District Seminar-Workshop for Agricultural Technology and Productivity, Province of Aklan, September 7 to October 15, 1985.

Basic Management and Skills Training for the Municipal Agricultural Officer (MAO) of the DA, AAC, Banga, Aklan, November 7-28, 1987.

Sloping Agricultural Land Technology for the Agricultural Production Technician, AAC, Banga, Aklan, June 21 to July 26, 1988.

Organization, Response to the Battle Cry of DECS "Bayan Muna, Bago ang Sarili", FFP/FAHP/VLP Convention, ANCF, New Washington, Aklan, September 1990.

National Training Workshop on Skills Analysis and Assessment on DAT-BAT Courses, CLSU Nueva Ecija, MAy 25-29, 1992.

Agricultural Education Managemet, SEAMEO Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, Khon Kaen, Thailand, MAy 18-20, 1992.

Agro-Based Technology Skills Training of the Faculty of ISCAF and MCC, ACC, November 18-23, 1990.

Skills Training on Farming System Technology for Agricultural Technologist of Region VI, Western Visayas, Agricultural Technology Institute (ATI), AAC College, November 18-23, 1990.

National Orientation and skills Training for VIDA Volunteers, AAC, June 4, 1990.

Resource System Management Seminar for DTI-CARP, Aklan Staff and CLient Organizations, AAC, May 22-24, 1990.

Skills Training on Farming System Technology for Agricultural Technologist of Region VI, Western Visayas, Agricultural Technology Institute (ATI), AAC College, May 7-12, 1990.

Regional Pi�a Fiber Production and Processing Planning Seminar, AAC, June 19-23, 1990.

Training Course on Farming as an Enterprise Support to CARP for Agricultural Technologists for VI - Western Visayas, ATI, AAC, December 7 - 17, 1989.

Supervisory Management Training for Municipal Agricultural Officers and Agricultural Technologists of Region VI - Western Visayas, ATI, AAC, July 17-22, 1989.

Short Term Training on Non-Formal and Livelihood Education, ACC, October 6-9, 1989.

DA-CARP Agri-Business Development Training, AAC, September 15-17, 1988.

SPECIAL WORKSHOPS/CONSULTATIONS/CONFERENCES ATTENDED

International

Seminar on Study Planning and Curriculum Development, Aharon Ofu, International Training Center, Mitzpe Rachel, Jerusalem, October 22 - November 25, 1996.

New Zealand Society of Agricultural Science Seminar, Parmerston North, New Zealand, August 7-8, 1981.

New Zealand Society of Horticultural Science Seminar, Lincoln College, Canterbury, New Zealand, September 4 -5, 1982.

Seminar on Viticulture, Lincoln College, Canterbury, New Zealand, October 8-9, 1984.

Seminar on the Physiology of Inflorescence Initiation on Grapes, Lincoln College, Canterbury, New Zealand, April 4, 1995.

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

Pambansang Lupon ng mga Guro

Philippine Association of Vocational Education, Inc.

Philippine Society of Animal Science, Inc., Visayas Division.

Conservation Farming Movement, Inc.

Crop Science, Inc.

SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

Published

(1988), Inflorescence Initiation in Grapes I - Response of Young Plants Growing Regulators. Vtis West Germany.

(1981). Effect of Temperature in the Initiation in Grapes. Botanical Gazette 142 (4), Chicago, USA.

Unpublished

(1973). The Lime Requirement of the Different Soil Types in Panay Island, BSA Thesis, CPU, Iloilo City.

(1985). The Effects of Hormones and Temperature on the Initiation of Inflorescence and Tendrils and the Morphology of shoots and Roots in grapes. Doctoral Dissertation, Lincoln College, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

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