DNSC & MABIDA: Advancing Biodiversity Collaboration
Written by Ralph Raleigh P. Dalig
Uploaded on Sept. 30, 2022
PANABO CITY - The Marine Biodiversity Database (MABIDA) Project visited the Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) on 30 September 2022. The team, represented by Mr. Leo Manuel B. Estaña, Project Leader of MABIDA, Mr. Jon Henly O. Santillan, Project Staff, and researchers Norjan Charls M. Cabanalan, Geomarie Anne S. Paredes, Ralph Raleigh P. Dalig, and Maria Joselle V. Luzon, were received by College President Dr. Joy M. Sorrosa, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Girley S. Gumanao, Director for Research and Development Mr. Mark Ronald S. Manseguiao, and other staff.
The meeting was initiated to provide an update on the status of the database being developed, collect feedback for future improvements, align with the plans and future activities of the project, and discuss the turnover of the signed Memorandum of Agreement between DNSC and UP Mindanao ABRAHAM MABIDA Project.
ABRAHAM Project 2: MABIDA, or Marine Biodiversity Database, aims to collaborate with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) around Mindanao to create a comprehensive database on Philippine reef fishes, specifically for the regions under the Celebes Sea and part of the Sulu Sea. DNSC and other HEIs have committed to providing the necessary information and support to materialize this goal.
Other Articles
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.
