ANNEX XI
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE REGIONAL LEAD CENTRE IN THE PHILIPPINES (RLCP) (SEAFDEC AQUACULTURE DEPARTMENT)

I. INTRODUCTION

The Sixth Training Course for Senior Aquaculturists in Asia and the Pacific Region was completed with closing ceremonies held 6 March 1987 in Iloilo City. All the 19 participants were awarded a NACA Diploma in Aquaculture. Eighteen were awarded the degree of Master of Aquaculture by the University of the Philippines in the Visayas on 2 April 1987.

A decision was made to postpone the seventh session to 1988–1989 to allow a review of the past six sessions during the one-year moratorium.

During the year, SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department as the Regional Lead Centre in the Philippines continued to provide technical assistance to, and trained technicians of, the Philippine National Aquaculture Centre (PNAC) stationed at Calape, Bohol.

II. PROGRESS OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

1. Training Programme

1.1 Sixth Training Course for Senior Aquaculturists in Asia and the Pacific Region, 1986–1987 session

The 19 participants from 8 countries are as follows:

Training activities for the sixth training course were conducted as scheduled from 13 March 1986 to 6 March 1987. Seventeen courses were planned out and implemented, including Principles of Aquaculture, Species Selection, Seed Production, Site Selection, Pond Design and Construction, Pen and Cage Culture, Aquaculture Economics, Pond Culture, Open Water Stocking, Fish Nutrition and Artificial Feeding, Seaweed Culture, Mollusc Culture, Post-Harvest Technology, Aquaculture Extension, Aquaculture Planning, Fish Health and Sanitation, and Recirculating Systems (Appendix 1). The course schedule closely followed the prepared timetable (Appendix 2) which outlined the daily activities, lectures (in hours) covering 26 per cent and practicals 74 per cent of total time, field trips, overseas study tour and other important activities.

Field trips were undertaken by the participants to several private fish farms in Iloilo Province and private shrimp hatcheries, oyster and mussel farms in Batan, Aklan and Roxas City, Capiz from 4 to 5 October 1986 (Appendix 3). From 21 to 25 October 1986 they undertook a four-day trip to Cebu and Bohol provinces in the Central Visayas to visit seaweed farms and seaweed processing plants. The participants also undertook study tours to various aquaculture centres (mainly freshwater) in Luzon Island in the Philippines from 2 to 8 July 1986. The aquaculture centres visited were Binangonan Research Station of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, Central Luzon State University, Laguna Lake pen and cage culture for milkfish and tilapia, and tilapia cage culture in Lakes Bunot, Sampaloc and Calibato. They visited a fish farm in Tanay, Rizal and the ICLARM library in Makati.

As in previous years, the participants went on an overseas study tour to India, Thailand and China from 8 July to 10 September 1986. Highlights of the tour were visits to the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture in Bhubaneswar, India; Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, India; Rayong Marine Fisheries Station and Chachoengsao Macrobrachium Research Centre in Thailand; Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, South China Sea Fisheries Institute, Shanghai Fisheries College as well as various farms in China (Appendix 4).

In addition to regular lectures and practicum, a number of seminar workshops were organized on specific topics where trainees were assigned topics for oral presentation to develop their abilities for stage presence, and on delivery and knowledge of the topics (Appendix 5).

The comprehensive examination administered by the University of the Philippines in the Visayas was held from 2–4 March 1987. Except for Mr. Dadang Gunarso from Indonesia, all the other 18 participants were qualified to sit for the Comprehensive Examination. (At the request of the NACA Training Coordinator, Mr. Gunarso was permitted to take the examination for NACA purposes only.) The University of the Philippines in the Visayas conferred the degree of Master of Aquaculture on the 18 participants during the University's commencement exercises on 2 April 1987.

The closing ceremony was held at the Amigo Terrace Hotel, Iloilo City, Philippines on 6 March 1987. All the 19 participants were awarded a NACA Diploma in Aquaculture.

Dr. Ulrich Grieb, FAO Representative in the Philippines gave the keynote address and Dr. Flor J. Lacanilao, AQD Chief awarded the diplomas. Chancellor of UPV, Dionisia A. Rola and Mr. N. Brown, Assistant UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines delivered speeches. The speech of Director Juanito B. Malig of BFAR was delivered by Assistant Director of Fisheries Juanito Montemayor.

1.1.1 Financial arrangements

The participants were awarded fellowships by different funding agencies as indicated above. The host institution administers and disburses those funds sent to its account in accordance with the budget line prepared by the Training Coordinator and will also prepare periodic expense account statements for funding agencies. NACA funds are disbursed through the special Sub-Imprest account.

1.2 Instructional Materials

Messrs. Isidro Tendencia and Edgardo Ledesma, both of the Department's Instructional Materials Section of the Training Division were awarded grants to enable them to train in audio-visual production under the UNDP Programme for Development Training and Communication Planning in Bangkok, Thailand with training fees, international air travel, and stipend provided by NACA. Mr. Tendencia attended the course on Production Techniques for Instructional Audio-Visual Aids from 6 April to 1 May 1987, while Mr. Ledesma attended the course on Production Techniques for Extension Audio-Visual Aids from 5 to 30 October 1987.

2. Information Programme

Reactivation of the Aquaculture Information System (AQUIS) was hampered due to another computer breakdown towards the second half of the year. Publication of the more than 600 data units already stored is being considered.

3. TCDC Programme

3.1 Philippine National Aquaculture Centre (PNAC)

As of late 1987, the project has started to produce shrimp (Penaeus monodon) postlarvae which were stocked in adjacent ponds. Hatchery operations have benefitted from the technical advice of Messrs. Antonio Villaluz, Ruby Salde, Elmer Sumbing and Atilano Castro of SEAFDEC AQD during a number of visits to the project site in Pangangan Island, Calape, Bohol throughout the year.

Visits were also made by NACA Project Coordinator Chen Foo Yan and Training Coordinator Dr. H. Chaudhuri during the first quarter.

Project staff who have joined training programs at SEAFDEC AQD include Sheila Basas, Florito Brillantes, Lourdes Juanich and Galicana Abrenica (Prawn Hatchery Operations)

4. Personnel

In view of the postponement of the seventh course to 1988–1989 and minimal office workload, the following personnel movements were effected during the period: Mr. Rolando Mamauag and Ms. Carolina Constantion were transferred to the Trainee Affairs Section effective 1 June 1987. Mr. Jesus Ledesma, Jr. was transferred to the Motor Pool and Automotive Section effective 18 May 1987. (In a related move, the four existing project vehicles plus the newly-arrived Land Cruiser were turned over to the Motor Pool of AQD for maintenance and safekeeping until the start of the 1988 session.)

The two staff presently manning the office and clerk-typists Jocelyn Janala and Conchita Ocampo, both casual employees of NACA.

III. PROBLEMS/RECOMMENDATIONS

Problems experienced during the year include:

1. lack of funds for basic expenses such as casual salaries, vehicle maintenance, etc.

2. late hiring of Training Coordinator for the seventh session which is to start March 1988.

In addition, the following recommendations have been excerpted from the Final Report submitted April 1987 by NACA Training Coordinator H. Chaudhuri:

1. The (non-degree) training course curriculum should have these components:

   1. general (existing) courses - 6 months

   2. specialized courses (select 1–2 only) - 3½ months

   3. overseas tour - 2½ months

2. The specialized courses may include Fish Nutrition, Prawn Hatchery, Finfish Hatchery, Freshwater Fish Culture, Integrated Farming Systems, Post-Harvest Technology, Fish Health, Pen/Cage Culture, etc.

3. To accommodate the specialized courses, time for the existing (general) courses can be reduced. Also, the orientation towards brackishwater and marine aquaculture should be balanced because of the freshwater background of many participants (84 per cent for the sixth training course).

4. Notice regarding requirements for enrollment should be forwarded to nominees well in advance so these requirements can be submitted to UPV before the start of the training course.

5. All nominees should be proficient in speaking, reading and writing English. Otherwise, they should take up English classes before they join the course to improve the quality and standard of the training programme.

Appendix 1

COURSE SCHEDULE (MODIFIED)
(Course Activities/No. of Hours)

Appendix 2

COURSE SCHEDULE

4-WEEK BREAK

5-WEEK BREAK

Appendix 3

OBSERVATION/STUDY TOUR TO VISAYAS AND LUZON
(SIXTH NACA COURSE: 1986–1987)

Appendix 4

OVERSEAS STUDY TOUR ITINERARY
(SIXTH NACA COURSE: 1986–1987)

Appendix 5

NACA SIXTH TRAINING COURSE
(1986–1987)

Seminars/Workshops/Term papers/Reports prepared/organized.

1. Seminar on Group Dynamics.

2. Seminar on “Status of Aquaculture and Fisheries in participants' respective countries (Principles of Aquaculture Course).

3. Seminars/Term papers on topics in Mollusc Culture (Mollusc Culture Course): Details in Appendix 9.

4. Seminar on “Special topics for Fish Diseases (Fish Health and Sanitation Course): Details in Appendix 10.

5. Seminar on “Feed Experiment” (Nutrition and Artificial Feeding Course): Group A: The effects of various protein sources on the growth and survival of P. monodon post-larvae. Group B: The effects of various protein sources on the growth and survival of Chanos chanos juveniles.

6. Seminar on proximate analysis (Nutrition and Artificial Feeding Course).

7. Term papers on general topics in Aquaculture (Pond Culture Course).

8. Report on “Organization in participants' respective countries supporting aquaculture development

   1. Public or Government sector

   2. Private sector (Principle of Aquaculture Course)

9. Report on Aquaculture Practices (Tour to private fish farms).

10. Reports on Overseas Study Tour to India, Thailand, China and Luzon (Philippines).

11. Report on “Potential species for Aquaculture” (Species Selection Course).

12. Reports on larval rearing practices of P. monodon and Siganus guttatus. (Seed Production Course).

13. Report on feasibility study on suitable pond (prawn grow-out pond) for aquaculture development: based on survey of three fish ponds (Site Selection Course).

14. Report on area measurement using pace length, plane table method and Engineer's Transit: Preparation of contour maps and design of freshwater and brackishwater ponds (Pond Design and Construction Course).

15. Report on Aquaculture Extension (Aquaculture Extension Course).

16. Report on planning of aquaculture projects aimed to improve aquaculture practices and techniques and technology dissemination through Training Courses (Aquaculture Planning Course).

17. Submission of ‘Capsule Research Proposal’ (Aquaculture Planning Course).

18. Written topics “Why fish farmers use less amount of fertilizers than needed in milkfish ponds? (Aquaculture Economic Course).”

19. Reports/laboratory exercises (Recirculating Systems Course).

    1. Oxygen consumption of fish.
    2. Ammonia toxicity of fish.

    3. Nitrate toxicity of fish.

20. Reports/laboratory exercises (Post-harvest Technology Course).

    1. Organoleptical evaluation of fish.
    2. Biological evaluation of fish.
    3. Chemical evaluation of fish.
    4. Depuration Experiments.
    5. Ice storage studies.
    6. Oil, iodine determination in fish.
    7. Fish brining, drying, smoking and canning.
    8. Salt determination in fish.
    9. Water activity (Aw) in fish.

    10. Evaluation of canned products, smoked and dried.

21. Reports/laboratory exercises (Fish Health and Sanitation Course).

    1. Submission of fish specimen for pathological examination.
    2. Bacterial isolation and identification/unknown.
    3. Fungal isolation and identification.
    4. Parasites isolation and identification.
    5. Bio-assay experiment.
    6. Anti-microbial sensitivity test.