CEBU CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)- Region VII pushed to strengthen the Blue Economy Reinvigoration (BLUER) program in Central Visayas through advancing the FISH Visayas Project, with phase II set to end in September 2025.
At the 5th Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting on August 7, the team assessed the project’s milestones; reviewed its progress and mapped out strategies to meet remaining targets, DOST-7 OIC-regional director, Tristan Abando said.
Abando bared that the FISH Visayas Project was launched in July 2022 and supported by the AFOS Foundation and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in collaboration with DOST, DA-BFAR, DTI, and other regional partners to promote responsible marine ecosystems.
The FISH Visayas promotes inclusive, innovation-driven, and sustainable blue economy practices across Central Visayas. The project has driven impactful initiatives, including dual training programs for fisherfolk and MSMEs, measures to improve market access, and interventions for sustainable resource management.
Abando said that to ensure continuity and maximize the project’s long-term impact, DOST-7 has proposed to sustain the PAC beyond the project’s completion in September this year by transforming it into the Blue Economy Advisory Council (BEAC), a regional platform to guide future blue economy policies and programs.
Role of science, technology and innovation for sustainable future
Despite its rich marine resources, Central Visayas’ coastal economy faces mounting challenges—declining fish stocks, inefficient supply chains, slow adoption of technology, and the growing impact of natural hazards. These threats put coastal livelihoods and marine industries at risk, highlighting the urgent need for science-driven solutions.
The 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation (RSTI) and the Regional Science and Technology Weeks (RSTWs) events in Central Visayas carried the theme on smart and sustainable blue economy and strong comfortable and peaceful future.
Yvette Labus, Project Manager & PH Resident Rep of AFOS Foundation that supported the FISH Visayas Project, stressed the importance of science, technology, and innovation in fostering a resilient, comfortable, and secure future, particularly for coastal communities and marine ecosystems, highlighting the need for a sustainable use of marine resources.
“Science, technology, and innovation are not just tools but the foundations for building a smart and sustainable future, specifically the significance of the ocean as a vital resource for light, sustenance, and economic opportunity.The collaboration between the FISH Visayas Project and the AFOS Foundation, DOST and local community organizations is vital in responsible marine resource management,” Labus noted.
Labus added that the prosperity of the Central Visayas is linked to the sustainable use of marine resources through strong collaboration, knowledge sharing and inspiration to develop and implement sustainable solutions, recognizing that the true heroes of the oceans are those that contribute to the sustainable management of marine resources.
DOST secretary Renato Solidum, Jr., in his keynote message at the opening of the 2025 RSTW in Cebu in July this year, pushed for the alignment of local programs with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) simplified into four strategic pillars.
“For easier implementation, DOST must promote and support startups that drive innovation and engage students and researchers in innovation activities; develop solutions and ideas to transform the blue economy in Central Visayas; collaborate with partners from other countries to capitalize on emerging technologies and establish innovation hubs and maker spaces where people can share ideas and develop solutions,” Solidum said.
Dr. Julius Relampagos, Chair of the Department of Economics, University of San Carlos (USC), in a symposium hosted by the Philippine APEC Study Center Network (PASCN) of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in partnership with USC, said that the blue economy is emerging as a crucial driver of long-term economic growth in Cebu and the Central Visayas.
Relampagos said that Cebu accounts for about 73% of the gross domestic product of the Central Visayas and the province is also home to over 80% of the Philippines’ inter-island shipping capacity contributing 8-10% of GDP.
“This means that the performance of Cebu’s ocean-based industries determines the long-term economic potential of the region. Cebu also leads the nation’s shipbuilding sector, housing 22 of the Philippines’ 124 shipyard facilities and bolstering manufacturing and economic growth,” he added.
(Photos: DOST7)/Data Source: Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS)
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