The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) recently conducted a training titled, Geospatial Technologies’ Applications to Aquaculture, for 25 researchers and technical staff from state universities and colleges (SUCs), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Fisheries Offices, and Local Government Units (LGUs).
Organized by the Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division (IARRD) in coordination with the Institution Development Division (IDD), the activity was held at the BPK Function Room, PCAARRD, Los Baños, Laguna on September 12-14, 2018.
The training was an offshoot of a recently completed PCAARRD-funded project, Suitability Assessment and Database Development for Enhanced Mussel Culture Development. Training participants were pre-selected as potential collaborators for the future expansion of sites for mussel culture.
Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and Prof. Armi May T. Guzman, Mr. Dominique P. Mediodia, and Ms. Sheena Gweyn Maurin of UP Visayas (UPV) introduced the use of geospatial technologies to site suitability assessment for enhanced aquaculture management.
The three-day training covered six lectures and a proposal and research design packaging workshop. The activity aimed to enhance knowledge of the participants on the dynamics of global positioning systems and principles of remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS); visualization of data through maps; use of database; and proposal packaging, research design making, and data collection.
Engr. Ruel Carlo L. Tanqueco, OIC-Director of IDD acknowledged the resource persons for sharing their expertise and knowledge and the participants for attending the training in spite of the bad weather. He asked the participants to keep working hard and avail themselves of the grants from PCAARRD to support the R&D initiatives of the country. He said that he would be looking forward to seeing the participants in the Directors’ Council Meeting defending their research proposals.
The training plays a key role in pushing for the expansion of mussel culture nationwide.