The University of the Philippines Baguio was given the opportunity to be an awardee of the Discovery Applied Research and Extension for Trans/Interdisciplinary Opportunities Grant-in-Aid 2017 funded by CHED. With the project entitled “Harnessing the potential of plant resources in the Cordillera for drug discovery, and promoting the use of indigenous wild plants and underutilized and neglected food crops as alternative food source and livelihood of local communities”, UP Baguio is the lead HEI and joined by Benguet State University, Pines City Colleges, Saint Louis University as the partner HEIs. The project started in October 2018 with a projected completion of two years but was eventually extended for a year.  

Project proponents are Teodora D. Balangcod as project leader with the study leaders Amelia Cendaña, Ashlyn Kim D. Balangcod from the University of the Philippines Baguio, Abigail Bersamin from Pines City Colleges, Elizabeth Dom-ogen, Ana Mendoza, Jude Tayaben from Benguet State University, and Freda Wong from Saint Louis University Graduate School.

The project has components of drug discovery from plants with traditional plant uses, food security and livelihood enhancement by promoting neglected and underutilized, indigenous plants and development of an online database information to popularize the use of neglected and underutilized plants.

To know more about the project visit the site: https://upbaguiochedcar.upb.edu.ph/