The True Fish Story At UPV

Food is one of the basic needs. One source of this commodity is the Philippines' marine resource that has been recognized as rich in the past but deemed diminishing at present.

With an awareness of this urgent situationer, the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, persistently pursues its mission to “provide quality education and conduct cutting edge and relevant researches in the field of fisheries and aquatic sciences”.

Quality teaching equals quality graduates

In acknowledging the teaching expertise at CFOS, the Commission on Higher Education has identified it as the Center of Excellence for Fisheries Education and Center of Development for Marine Biology. The quality of its graduates is also evident in their performance in the PRC's Fisheries Technologists Licensure Exam. In 2003, it claimed the top 34 spots with a 92.31% passing rate. The following year, CFOS again grabbed the topmost rank and six other places out of the top ten. Students indeed benefit from the highly trained active faculty members, currently numbering 28, most of them with Ph.Ds obtained from foreign institutions such as Japan, Australia, Canada, UK and USA. While fisheries, like agriculture or art courses, has never been a popular choice among college enrollees, the average enrollment in the undergraduate and graduate programs from 2000 to 2003 was 264. In the last two years, however, with the attraction of overseas employment for nurses, fisheries students have correspondingly decreased in number.

Relevant research equals outstanding recognition

Appreciating the relationship between teaching and research, in that the knowledge generated by the latter enhances the former, CFOS not just offers degree programs but also delves in researches overseen by its four institutes and research units. To make this functional and productive, the budget for Personnel Services and Maintenance, Operating and Other Expenses totaled PhP 40.907M in 2003 and in 2004, PhP 38.826M. The amount includes expenses for the 25-year old Training and Research Vessel Sardinella, which has now become too expensive for the University to maintain, thus a pending recommendation for its sale is just awaiting the final decision of the UP System President.

The CFOS faculty dynamically engage in researches to gain first hand experience and contribute to new information. In support of this endeavor, UPV funds studies which go through a series of priority checks and expert reviews. Since the CFOS allocation is only around PhP 800, 000.00, many researchers tap bigger external funding which national and foreign agencies approve based on the strength of the proposal, qualifications and the track record of the researcher.

Significant results of UPV researchers' undertakings have already been cited in the resurgence of the angel wings in Capiz Bay, recently celebrated in Roxas City's Diwal Festival. Studies on the mudcrab also led to improved production in hatchery, nursery and grow-out. Closer to home at the Miagao campus, the five municipal mayors of Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miagao and San Joaquin have united in the creation of the Southern Iloilo Coastal Resource Management Council. This commendable joint effort initiated by the CFOS apprehended the encroachment of commercial fishing which local fishers are grateful for in increasing their catch.

Impressive showing of research studies can also be gleaned from awards reaped by the researches and international publication of their reports.

CFOS does take pride in its accomplishments and continue to exert effort in keeping UP's well-deserved reputation for excellence. (UPV-IPO)