A team of aquatic biologists and microbiologists led by Asst. Prof. Reuel Bennett, Dr.rer.nat., Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) and Mr. Elfritzson Peralta, M.Sc. together with DBS academic staff Mr. Allan Gilles, M.Sc., Ms. Eunice Aaron, M.Sc. (Marine Biology team), Ms. Justine De Leon, M.Sc., and Mr. Kenneth Xavier Sanchez, M.Sc. (Freshwater Biology team) led a team of junior research staff to explore Ormoc鈥檚 watershed area, including mangrove forests, coastal areas, estuaries, streams, rivers, and a freshwater lake – Lake Danao. The study which was conducted on August 11 to 14 covered a total of 26 study sites.
The project aims to assess the impacts of pollution and other anthropogenic stressors in the entire watershed. Initial results of the study were presented by Mr. Elfritzson M. Peralta, M.Sc., Assoc. Prof. Richard Thomas B. Pavia Jr., Ph.D., and Mr. Allan Gilles Jr., M.Sc on September 17 during an event where City Mayor Hon. Lucy Torres Gomez was present. City Councilors Peter Rodriguez, Caren Torres Rama, Edmund Kierulf, and Bert Pades, together with officials from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Agricultural Office, and representatives from the Protected Areas Management Board also joined the event.
This initiative, which underscores the strong partnership between UST scientists and their government counterparts, is a testament to their shared commitment to bring science to the community. This would help the LGU and other concerned government agencies in planning steps that will protect and conserve Ormoc Bay and the tributaries draining it. Furthermore, UST scientists are able to contribute their expertise to policy and management initiatives, thereby enhancing the use of scientifically validated data.
