Marine Resources Research Division - Pcaarrd

Marine Resources Research Division - Pcaarrd Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development(PCAARRD)

The Marine Resources Research Division (MRRD) formulates S&T sectoral plan, as well as coordinates, evaluates and monitors R&D programs and projects relating to marine resources sector, including offshore and oceanic resources.

22/05/2026

TalabaCon 2026 Highlights‎

The Talabacon 2026: National Oyster Conference, organized by Central Philippine University (CPU), University of the Phil...
18/05/2026

The Talabacon 2026: National Oyster Conference, organized by Central Philippine University (CPU), University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), and the UP Diliman Marine Science Institute (UPD MSI), and supported by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST PCAARRD) and together with other private partners, is being held at the Iloilo Grand Hotel from 18-19 May 2026.

The Opening of the event was graced by the presence of notable leaders who provided Welcome Messages, including the Hon. Raisa S. Trenas-Chu, Mayor of Iloilo City, represented by Ms. Velma Jane Lao; UP Visayas Chancellor Dr. Clement C. Camposano; Central Philippine University President, Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy; DOST Region 6 represented by the Assistant Regional Director for Finance and Administrative Services, Dr. Mary Rose O. Suerte; and Dr. Rolando V. Pakingking, Chairman of the Talabacon 2026. A message of support was also delivered by Dr. Pastor Jones T. Denusta, Director, WESVAARRDEC, PCAARRD in the Region. Keynote Speech was delivered by Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, PCAARRD Executive Director. His speech underscores, the clear goal, aspiring for Philippine oyster to be recognized not only for its taste and quality, but also for meeting World-class standards of safety, sustainability, and responsible production.

Viewing of the posters and networking ensued prior to the Plenary Presentations where Co-Chair of TalabaCon Dr. Deo Florence L. Onda provided the rationale of the conference.
This activity serves as a venue to review/evaluate and share the research highlights/outputs of the completed and ongoing Oyster R&D programs/projects, including the relevance to appropriate stakeholders. Further, this will bring together researchers, policymakers, industry players, students, local communities/oyster farmers and government and non-government/ private agencies to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and inform inclusive policies for oyster development.

The conference was attended by more than 150 participants from State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), representatives from the National Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), Fisherfolk Associations, Private Institutions and students from Regions NCR, 4A, 4B, 6 and 7.

The Marine Resources Research Division of DOST PCAARRD conducted the Inception Meeting for the newly approved PCAARRD-GI...
13/05/2026

The Marine Resources Research Division of DOST PCAARRD conducted the Inception Meeting for the newly approved PCAARRD-GIA funded project, Coral Reef Restoration in Batangas using Coral Larval Enhancement Methods on 7 May 2026 at the Batangas State University (BatStateU), Batangas City. The project aims to understand the reproductive cycle pattern of corals in Lobo, Batangas and will apply this knowledge to restore coral reef ecosystems in the area.

The meeting focused on the DOST-GIA guidelines governing project implementation emphasizing the new provisions and documentary requirements, as well as the roles and responsibilities of Dr. Miguel Enrique Ma. Azcuna as Project Leader, BatStateU as the implementing agency, and PCAARRD as the funding and monitoring agency. Dr. Azcuna also presented the project work plan and expected outputs.

Present during the meeting were key officials from BatStateU, led by Engr. Albertson D. Amante, Vice President for Research, Development and Extension Services. Also in attendance were Dr. Rosenda A. Bronce, Director for Research and Dr. Joshua M. Vacarizas, Assistant Director for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources and PCAARRD BSP. Members of the Coral Restoration project team and VIP CORALS Lobo and representatives from the administrative offices such as the Procurement, Budget, Property, Supplies and Accounting Offices participated in the meeting. Dr. Jayvee A. S**o, Center Head of VIP CORALS Lobo, welcomed the participants.

The activity was spearheaded by MRRD Director Dr. Mari-Ann M. Acedera, together with Ms. Maria Adela Corpuz, MRRD Assistant Director and MRRD Staff, Ms. Preciosa C. Samonte and Mr. Dan Carlo Barrion. Also joining the PCAARRD team were staff from the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for R&D and FAD Accounting Section.

The Marine Resources Research Division of PCAARRD conducted the inception meeting for the project, Revisiting Fisheries ...
01/05/2026

The Marine Resources Research Division of PCAARRD conducted the inception meeting for the project, Revisiting Fisheries Management Areas: Investigation of Spatial Hypotheses Using Environmental DNA (FISH eDNA) in University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin), Davao City on 28 April 2026.

Highlighted in the said meeting were the DOST-GIA guidelines governing the project implementation and the roles of PCAARRD being the funding and monitoring agency with UPMin as the implementing agency including the roles and responsibilities of Dr. Cleto L. Nañola, Jr. as the Project Leader.

Dr. Nañola presented the project workplan vis-a-vis the initial activities conducted and the project’s future activities. PCAARRD team was headed by Dr. Mari-Ann Acedera, Director of MRRD, together with Ms. Maria Adela Corpuz, Assistant Director of the said division and other technical personnel of MRRD: Ms. Michelle De Vera and Mr. Dan Carlo Barrion. Also joining the PCAARRD team is Dr. Jesselle Laranas, Supervising Science Research Specialist of the office of the Deputy Executive Director for R&D. PCAARRD’s FAD Accounting Section also attended online.

The PCAARRD team was warmly welcomed by UPMin Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Maria Stella Salazar. The event was attended by the staff of both project teams and UPMin’s personnel who represented the administrative offices such as Accounting Section, Supply and Property Management Office. Other participants who attended online are partner agencies of UPMin in the implementation of the project, namely Dr. Richard Muallil of Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) and Dr. Samuel Mamauag of De La Salle University (DLSU) including Mr. Kevin Labrador as the project consultant.

Dr. Mari-Ann M. Acedera, Director of the Marine Resources Research Division of DOST PCAARRD provided an Opening Message ...
21/04/2026

Dr. Mari-Ann M. Acedera, Director of the Marine Resources Research Division of DOST PCAARRD provided an Opening Message during the Training Workshop on Molecular Identification of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and qPCR Detection of Kareniacean Dinoflagellates held at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) on 15 April 2026. The Opening Program was also graced by Dr. Emmanuel M. Vera Cruz, CLSU Vice President for Research and Extension who delivered a Message of Support. Dr. Jerwin R. Undan, Professor from CLSU was also present during the Opening.

The training workshop is part of the ongoing activities of the ongoing PCAARD-GIA project on the Development of qPCR Assay for the Detection and Quantification of Harmful Kareniacean Dinoflagellates in Selected Coastal Waters of Central Luzon under the leadership of Dr Garry A. Benico. The activity aims to enhance technical capacity in molecular-based HAB monitoring, support the development of early warning systems, and standardize laboratory protocols that can be adopted by participating institutions BFAR Regions 1 and 3, BFAR-NFRDI and NFDC, and uGREAT scholars. Total of 24 participants attended the 3-day training workshop.

A monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and project review for the following PCAARRD-GIA funded projects were conducted at the...
19/02/2026

A monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and project review for the following PCAARRD-GIA funded projects were conducted at the University of the Philippines Mindanao, Davao City on 18 February 2026:

• EMBRACE MaBiDa: Empowering Mindanao Biodiversity Research, Awareness, and Conservation Efforts through Marine Biodiversity Database Phase 2, led by Prof. Leo Manuel B. Estaña; and
• CHARMS Mindanao: Capacity-building and Human Resource Development (HRD) for the Advancement of Research in Marine Science in Mindanao, led by Dr. Cleto L. Nañola, Jr.

The visit was headed by the Marine Resources Research Division Director, Dr. Mari-Ann M. Acedera, together with MRRD personnel to evaluate and review the actual accomplishments attained by the projects vis-à-vis the targeted outputs and workplan. The project team together with the project leaders, were reminded of the timeline in the submission of the technical and financial reportorial requirements needed to clear UP Mindanao’s technical and financial accountabilities from PCAARRD.

A visit to the Coral Reef Resiliency and Ecology Studies (CRREST) Laboratory of Dr. Nañola was also conducted on 19 February 2026 with Dr. Melvin Carlos, PCAARRD’s Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management and Support Services, and Dr. Fezoil Luz Decena, Director of PCAARRD’s Institution Development Division (IDD) including personnel from IDD and MRRD.

Dr. Acedera of MRRD and her team also joined IDD’s inception meeting of the project, Fostering Integrated Sustainable Habitats for Ecosystem Security in Davao Gulf, Mindanao, Southern Philippines (FISHES Mindanao), under the Undergraduate Research and Education Assistantship for Technology (uGREAT) program of PCAARRD.

The Marine Resources Research Division of PCAARRD conducted a kick-off meeting for the official commencement of the impl...
05/02/2026

The Marine Resources Research Division of PCAARRD conducted a kick-off meeting for the official commencement of the implementation of the following projects under the DOST-GIA funded program, “The Sibuyan Sea Symphony (SSS): Exploring Pelagic Ecosystems and Fisheries Dynamics” on 05 February 2026 at the Visayas State University (VSU):

Project 1. Dynamics Regulating Underwater Marine Systems (DRUMS): Oceanography, Biodiversity, and Productivity of the Sibuyan Sea/ Dr. Cristy S. Acabado, University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV)
Project 2. Biological Assessment of Sibuyan Stocks (BASS): Insights on Population Dynamics and Reproduction for Sustainable Fisheries/ Dr. Karen A. Villarta-Lane, UPV
Project 3. Fisheries and Feeding Ecology of the Pelagic Resources in the Sibuyan Sea (FiFE)/ Dr. Donna M. Guarte-Valida, VSU

Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes, President of VSU welcomed the participants of the inception meeting; Dr. Clement Camposano, Chancellor of UPV and Dr. Santiago Peña, Jr., Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovation of VSU also gave their messages of support for the implementation of the said program.

Dr. Mari-Ann Acedera, Director of MRRD, presented the Rationale of the said meeting and Ms. Ma. Adela Corpuz, Assistant Director of MRRD discussed the Roles and Responsibilities of the implementing agencies of the abovementioned projects.

The Guidelines for the Grants-in-Aid Program of the DOST and its Agencies was also presented by Ms. Ma. Josette San Luis of the Office of the Deputy Executive Director of PCAARRD. Ms. Joana del Rosario of the Department of Science and Technology – Special Projects Division, virtually presented the DOST’s checklist required for projects’ reportorial requirements with Ms. Jane Katleen del Mundo of DOST Accounting Office who also joined online clarified some financial concerns in the implementation of the DOST-GIA program/projects.

All the project leaders presented their workplan, target accomplishments, and some initial activities that have started. The meeting served as a leveling-off activity between PCAARRD and the implementing agencies of the 3 projects on the target outputs, plan of activities and implementation.

Other participants present onsite were Dr. Wilfredo Campos, Program Consultant, VSU administrative personnel, program team from UPV-VSU with their research partners from Romblon State University and other MRRD staff, while other participants who joined virtually include UPV administrative personnel and PCAARRD Accounting Office personnel.

A visit to the campus of the Visayas State University (VSU) and various laboratories of the Department of Biological Sci...
05/02/2026

A visit to the campus of the Visayas State University (VSU) and various laboratories of the Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) - College of Arts and Sciences, VSU, was conducted by the Marine Resources Research Division headed by its Director, Dr. Mari-Ann M. Acedera, with Dr. Donna Guarte-Valida, Project Leader of the ongoing DOST-GIA funded Project 3. Fisheries and Feeding Ecology of the Pelagic Resources in the Sibuyan Sea (FiFE) of the program, The Sibuyan Sea Symphony (SSS): Exploring Pelagic Ecosystems and Fisheries Dynamics. The visit was conducted on 4 February 2026 at VSU, Baybay City, Leyte.

Also present during the visit was Dr. Darius Noel C. Miñoza, Head of the DBS of CAS - VSU, project team, and staff from PCAARRD – Office of the Deputy Executive Director for R&D and Marine Resources Research Division.

Happy 53rd PCAARRD Founding Anniversary!
02/02/2026

Happy 53rd PCAARRD Founding Anniversary!

The Marine Resources Research Division (MRRD) of PCAARRD led by its Director Dr. Mari-Ann M. Acedera, conducted an Incep...
21/01/2026

The Marine Resources Research Division (MRRD) of PCAARRD led by its Director Dr. Mari-Ann M. Acedera, conducted an Inception Meeting on the newly approved PCAARRD-GIA funded program “Driving the Philippine Sea Cucumber Industry Forward: Sustainable Production and Processing Approaches for Value-added Collagen and Fine Chemicals” with 3 project components on 16 January 2026 at the University of the Philippines Diliman-Marine Science Institute (UP Marine Science Institute), Quezon City.

The program team who attended the inception includes Dr. Eizadora T. Yu of UPD MSI as Program and Project 1 Leader; Dr. Rachel Gotanco as Project 2 Leader together with the Project Staff Dr. Nadia Abesamis of Siliman University and Dr. Sitti Zayda Halun of Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography. The Project 3 Leader is Dr. Hiyas Junio of UPD Institute of Chemistry.

The meeting provided a venue to clarify roles of researchers, as well as PCAARRD’s role as funding and monitoring agency; define requirements, expected outputs and outcomes, workplan/timetable, monitoring schedules and implementing strategies; and discuss refinements in the methodologies, if needed. The new amended DOST-GIA guidelines (MC No. 003 Series of 2025) for technical and financial monitoring was also discussed by Ms. Josette San Luis of the PCAARRD- OED RD during the meeting.

Dr. Junio, also the Director of Research Management Office, Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research and Development (OVCRD) of UP Diliman delivered the opening remarks. Dr. Marie Antonette Meñez, Professor Emeritus shared the welcome remarks. The meeting was attended by other members of the program/project team, Accounting office representatives and MRRD staff. Representatives from PCAARRD Accounting and Project Staff, Accounting and Budget Personnel of SU and MSU-TCTO also attended via zoom.

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