Iloilo State U taps DOST-NRCP RDLead for fisheries research advancement
BAROTAC NUEVO, ILOILO –– The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) taps the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to advance research competencies of its faculty and researchers in fisheries and agriculture.
DOST through the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) Enhanced Research and Development Leadership to Foster an Inclusive Research Ecosystem Program (RDLead FIRE) builds the capacity of regional institutions in specialized fields such as fisheries science to strengthen their institutional readiness to serve as hubs for science-driven solutions in the coastal and marine sectors.
RDLeader Dr. Roger G. Dolorosa served as the resource speaker during the week-long institutional readiness training on April 20-24, 2026.
The program featured intensive, output-oriented activities designed to strengthen ISUFST’s core competencies in fisheries. The engagement set a clear direction: to transform research potential into publishable outputs, fundable proposals, and actionable policy contributions.
During the first phase of the training, the participants developed manuscripts following the IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) format to align their work with international publishing benchmarks. Dr. Dolorosa capped off the first session with peer reviews and one-on-one coaching to help faculty target prestigious Scopus- and Web of Science-indexed journals.
As part of the workshop, participants developed targeted funding proposals aligned with DOST and NRCP funding priorities. The session also covered a data-driven R&D assessment to map out ISUFST research directions in fisheries, agriculture, education, and technology.
The training integrated fieldwork with theory through technical tours of ISUFST’s labs, museum, and integrated farm designed to prepare researchers to develop research proposals grounded in the university’s mandate and responsive to sustainability and ecosystem resilience challenges.
To further enhance research impact, the sessions also provided insights into policy development, community extension, and knowledge utilization. The training wrapped up with the creation of a six-month R&D Action Plan and a Mentoring and Collaboration Plan. These strategic frameworks give ISUFST a clear, time-bound roadmap to sustain its current momentum, secure external funding, and elevate regional partnerships.
(Ivy A. Sacapaño, Vince Estella Balahan, S&T Media Service)
