August 1–4, 2025 | Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – The University of Santo Tomas (UST) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office 2 (BFAR R02) continue to deepen their partnership under the Cagayan BAYRUS-DIVERSITY Program, a science-based initiative focused on river health and biodiversity conservation. The program is jointly implemented by the UST–Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences (RCNAS) and BFAR R02, with funding from the DOST–National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).
During the four-day fieldwork, UST faculty researchers and undergraduate students from the BEATS Lab and ZESL, led by Dr. Rey Donne Papa, conducted river sampling and site assessments in selected municipalities along the Cagayan River. The activity was carried out in close coordination with BFAR R02 staff, who provided technical and logistical support on the ground.
The research supports two ongoing components of the program:
🔬 BAYRUS-ILOG – Studies bacterial and bacteriophage diversity, interaction, and genomic profiles in the Cagayan River.
🌊 Lusog-Ilog – Evaluates the river’s ecological health to inform sustainable fisheries and biodiversity strategies.
As part of the visit, the UST team also paid a courtesy call to the City Government of Ilagan, Isabela, to coordinate future research activities. Continued engagement with local government units remains essential to the program’s success.
BFAR R02 Regional Director Dr. Angel B. Encarnacion expressed BFAR R02’s full support for the collaboration, highlighting its importance in advancing science-based management of aquatic resources. Alongside this, Dr. Emma L. Ballad played an active role in coordinating with UST researchers and facilitating field activities throughout the four-day undertaking.
This partnership reflects the growing importance of academic-government cooperation in advancing science-led conservation and sustainable fisheries in Northern Luzon. (J. Ziegler/J. Usigan)
📍Follow BFAR R02 and UST RCNAS for updates from the Cagayan BAYRUS-DIVERSITY Program.
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