The advancement of Philippine aquaculture is increasingly defined by the interplay between laboratory innovation and field-level execution, a transition led by one of the country’s most experienced fisheries scientists. The Manila Times interviewed Dr. Ma. Jodecel Danting, center chief of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (BFAR- FTC), about transformation of the fisheries industry and food security. Danting, who was recognized as a 2025 Filipino Face of Biotechnology, stands at the forefront of this shift, as she brings more than four decades of experience in tilapia genetics and breeding. Under her leadership, the center increased fingerling production by 10 million in 2025.

Tribdino, R. G. (2026, May 2). Dr. Jodecel Danting on modernizing Philippine aquaculture: How biotech and labor are reshaping aquaculture. The Manila Times, p. B5.