The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (Seafdec), an aquaculture research institute 21 km south of Iloilo City, celebrated its 31st anniversary friday without the usual balloons, buffet and banter. "Yes, it's unusual, the saddest anniversary in 31 years," said Roland Platon, chief of Seafdec Aquaculture Department. The department will compulsorily retire all of its 180 personnel come midnight of July 16. on July 17, many of them will be rehired but 40-50 persons will lose their jobs.

Labiste, M. (2004, July 12). Fisheries center marks year by retiring personnel. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A18