Central Luzon State University (CLSU), through its Freshwater Aquaculture Center (FAC), holds a groundbreaking ceremony for a 20-million-peso Tilapia Breeding Nucleus Facility funded by the Department of Science and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) today, August 17, at the FAC Grounds.
CLSU President Dr. Evaristo A. Abella, along with DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, and Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development Dr. Juanito T. Batalon, led the ceremonial groundbreaking. They were joined by Dr. Fezoil Luz C. Decena, Director of the Institutional Development Division of DOST-PCAARRD; Dr. Cynthia V. Almazan, Senior Science Research Specialist of DOST-PCAARRD; Dr. Emmanuel M. Vera Cruz, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension; Dr. Karl Marx Quiazon, Director of FAC, and other guests.
During the program, President Abella emphasized the importance of the new facility for advancing agricultural research and enhancing regional food security.
“Today, we are marking the beginning of another important milestone in strengthening the university's contribution to research, innovation, and the development of technologies in the field of aquaculture that can make a difference in the lives of our fisherfolks and partner communities. It should impact the major stakeholders—not merely for publication or generation of technology that will be shelved in the laboratory, but providing an impact in terms of economic standing and the standard of living for our families."
Additionally, as part of the project, Dr. Jonathan V. Fabula, Director of the Precision and Digital Agriculture Center, launched and showcased in a technology demonstration the project dubbed “Infusing Smart Farming Technologies in CLSU Tilapia Breeding Nucleus towards Precision and Digital Aquaculture (ISDA),”which features three technologies: Predicount, an AI-assisted Fish Fry Counter; Aquaafeedr, an Autonomous Precision Feeding System; and Predirover, an Autonomous Fry Collection & Harvesting USV.
These facility upgrades stand as a clear testament to CLSU’s commitment to improving food sustainability and sufficiency through R&D in the aquatic industry.
