AGRI PARTY-LIST Representative Wilbert Lee on Monday urged the government to maximize state educational institutions like the University of the Philippines to produce crops that can withstand extreme weather conditions.

“We should all be deeply concerned about the looming threats of El Niño and its potential negative impact on our agricultural productivity, particularly rice production. Historically, the El Niño has caused severe droughts that lead to water supply issues and subsequently, crop failure,” the lawmaker said.

“In addition to this, extreme weather events such as floods further exacerbate the challenges faced by our farmers. To address these challenges, we must utilize cutting-edge scientific approaches and maximize the wealth of knowledge in our state educational institutions and science centers,” he added.

The lawmaker pointed out that recent UP initiatives should be maximized by government to benefit Filipino farmers who are constantly threatened by droughts and typhoons.

One of these, he said, is the $14.95 million agreement between the UP and the Korea International Cooperation Agency for a project that will establish an Agricultural Genomics Research Center in UP Los Baños.

The agreement, signed on July 14 by UP President Angelo Jimenez and KOICA Country Director Kim Eunsub, involves a six-year project that aims to improve agricultural competitiveness by enhancing science and technology adaptation in the agricultural sector.

It seeks to enhance the genome-based research and development capability of UP through academic partnerships, scholarships, and trainings.