DOST-PCAARRD Heads Visit UP Mindanao to Monitor Progress of ABRAHAM Program | News Article | Marine Biodiversity Database Project

DOST-PCAARRD Heads Visit UP Mindanao to Monitor Progress of ABRAHAM Program

Written by Norjan Charls M. Cabanalan
Uploaded on May 26, 2022

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) heads, Dr. Mari-Ann M. Acedera and Ma. Adela C. Corpuz, recently visited the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao to monitor the progress of the ABRAHAM Program.

The ABRAHAM Program, a three-year project being implemented in partnership with UP Mindanao, aims to study and understand the biodiversity of marine life in the Philippines, with a focus on Mindanao. Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has made significant progress in its research and implementation.

During their visit, the DOST-PCAARRD heads were given a tour of the CRREST Laboratory where the program is being implemented. They were able to see the equipment being used in the research and the progress that has been made so far.

Dr. Acedera expressed her satisfaction with the progress of the program, commending the researchers for their dedication and hard work. She also emphasized the importance of studying marine biodiversity, particularly in the Philippines, which is home to some of the world's richest marine ecosystems.

The ABRAHAM Program is expected to contribute to the development of sustainable and science-based policies for the protection and management of marine biodiversity in the country. With the support of DOST-PCAARRD, the program aims to provide valuable insights and data that can be used to promote the conservation and preservation of the Philippines' marine resources.

The visit of the DOST-PCAARRD heads highlights the government's commitment to supporting scientific research and development in the country. Through partnerships with leading academic institutions like UP Mindanao, the government aims to drive progress and innovation that can contribute to the sustainable development of the Philippines.

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CSU and ABRAHAM Project 2 MABIDA met for the first time for a possible collaboration. BUTUAN CITY - Researchers from the ABRAHAM Program conducted a courtesy visit to Caraga State University (CSU) in Butuan City on 09 September 2022 to present the executive brief of the program. The team, represented by Mr. Leo Manuel B. Estaña, Project Leader of MABIDA, and researchers Kevin L. Labrador from FishDive, Norjan Charls M. Cabanalan, Geomarie Anne S. Paredes, Ralph Raleigh P. Dalig, and Maria Joselle V. Luzon from MABIDA, were welcomed by Dr. Romell A. Seronay, Research and Extension Coordinator Chief of CSU, together with the faculty and staff of the Biology Department. Dr. Seronay started the meeting with a brief introduction of the representatives of CSU and a presentation of the current research thrusts of CSU's Center for Research in Environmental Management and Eco-Governance (CRÈME). Objectives and outputs of the program were presented, including the database and website being continuously updated. They also discussed potential areas for collaboration. MABIDA aims to create a comprehensive database on Philippine reef fishes specifically for the regions under the Celebes Sea and part of the Sulu Sea. CSU, one of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Mindanao interested in marine biodiversity and resource management, is highly invited and encouraged to populate the database and conduct collaborative scientific activities.

FishDive Project Conducts Courtesy Visit to Regional BFAR Offices in Koronadal and General Santos

The research team of FishDive Project conducted a courtesy visit to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region XII Office in Koronadal City and in BFAR XII Regional Fisheries Laboratory in General Santos City to introduce and discuss the training and capacity building activities offered through the ABRAHAM-FishDive Project. Fishing Regulations Officer II Paul Benedict Gepte welcomed the research team and expressed their interest in the training modules presented. The research team also visited the BFAR XII Regional Fisheries Laboratory in General Santos City where the lab facilities are stationed. Ma’am Eugene Gay Jamora, the Laboratory Manager of BFAR XII RFL received copies of the training modules and gave an overview of the facilities and services they currently offer. The BFAR XII RFL expressed their interest in conducting training on DNA barcoding, which the CRREST Laboratory has been offering since 2019. Earlier this month, Dr. Cleto L. Nañola, Jr. and Assistant Regional Director Omar M. Sabal, RFT met at the 5th PAMB-SBPS Executive Committee Meeting where the latter expressed his interest in the same training modules presented to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Protected Area Management Office of the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (DENR-PAMO-SBPS). The CRREST Laboratory through the #FishDiveProject is looking forward to working with the government agencies in Region 12 to contribute to the increase in scientific capability, particularly in the interest of supporting the implementation of the Fisheries Management Area 3.

JRMSU, ZSCMST completes three-day training on Fish DNA Barcoding

Faculty members from Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU) and Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) completed their three-day training on Fish DNA Barcoding last 19 August 2022. The activity aims to provide benchmarking on the DNA barcoding pipeline — covering concepts and applications to actual laboratory work. The three-day training was led by Mr. Kevin Labrador, University Researcher of the FishDive Project and assisted by Mr. Christian Labrador and Ms. April Mae Numeron of the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao. The participants also had the opportunity to view the facilities of PGC Min. We thank our training participants, Dr. Oliver Tito, Ms. Kathleen Dalope, and Ms. Aldette Dela Cruz of ZSCMST and Dr. Junnasir Sakilan and Dr. Jhoan Rhea Pizon of JRMSU, for their hard work and willingness to conduct more training and capacity building activities in their respective institutions. UP Mindanao and ZSCMST will also enter into a Memorandum of Understanding for scientific cooperation through the ABRAHAM FishDive Project.

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