MABIDA Pays a Courtesy Visit to Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology | News Article | Marine Biodiversity Database Project

MABIDA Pays a Courtesy Visit to Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology

Written by Irene Faith Makinano
Uploaded on Sept. 6, 2024

Malita, Davao Occidental - The MABIDA Project successfully conducted a courtesy visit to the Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST) on September 6, 2024. This visit aimed to enhance collaboration between the institutions and gather crucial data for the MABIDA Project’s expanding marine biodiversity database.

Key representatives from SPAMAST included Director Grace D. Buencillo of the Research Development and Innovation Office, Dr. Marlyn B. Llameg, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Asst. Prof. Junarie Joy Tuba-Dano, Research Coordinator. The engagement focused on strengthening the existing partnership between MABIDA and SPAMAST, emphasizing data sharing and collaborative research efforts to support marine conservation and biodiversity initiatives.

The purpose of the visit was to engage with SPAMAST and request important data that will help populate the MABIDA Project's database, thereby enhancing ongoing efforts to advance marine biodiversity research and conservation in the Southern Philippines.

This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to marine research and the sustainable management of aquatic resources, aligning with national goals for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

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Marine Biodiversity Database (MABIDA) Website Soft Launched to Increase Marine Conservation Efforts

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KABACAN, NORTH COTABATO - Dr. Cleto L. Nañola, Jr. and Ms. Maybelle A. Fortaleza of CRREST Laboratory served as the resource persons for the monthly seminar series organized by the University of Southern Mindanao Fisheries Society last 28 April 2023. Dr. Nañola discussed the importance of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the country as means of managing our coastal and marine resources, while Ms. Fortaleza presented what is currently known about the marine fish diversity in Davao Gulf. Both presentations include data from the research projects conducted by CRREST Laboratory in Mindanao, particularly in Davao Gulf. The seminar was attended by 150 BS Fisheries students and faculty members. We are grateful to the College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Julius Jerome Ele, Dr. Mary Joy Cañolas, Ma’am Leonila Papalid, and Sir Stephen Dave Dupo for the warm welcome and fruitful discussion in USM Kabacan. Both universities will also enter a Memorandum of Understanding focused on training and capacity building activities for the BS Fisheries faculty and students through the DOST-funded ABRAHAM: FishDive Project.

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