By: Adela Garapan Ida
The Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) held their groundbreaking ceremony to lead to the construction of a two (2) five storey- buildings for National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) located at Bgy. Vasra, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City on April 28, 2016.
Undersecretary and National Director of BFAR, Asis G. Perez led the ceremonial event along with the officials and staff of the said Bureau.
Director Perez announced that the buildings would mainly be used to improve the quality of services to their stake holders and to the public as well. It’s a safekeeping of facilities for Oceanography and Fish Biology studies, Seafood Safety Quality and Fish Development and Processing. Likewise, a library and management center would be established as a repository of fisheries researches and scientific information.
Furthermore, Director Perez pointed out that after 69 years, finally the dream of BFAR to own a building has now come to a realization. It was in June 2015, the construction of its Main Building had been started in a 10,751 square meters in the same location. The construction of these three buildings would be completed within 510 calendar days and would be operational in year 2017. These buildings had been designed by a famous Filipino internationally acclaimed Architect Palafox and Associates.
Meanwhile, Director Perez in a brief interview, had been asked as to whether there is a possibility that BFAR would become a Department. He affirmed the question but could not elaborate further considering that his term is only by appointment.#
