The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), an aquaculture research institute 21km south of Iloilo City, celebrated its 31st anniversary Friday, July 9, without the usual balloons, buffet and banter. "Yes, it's unusual in 31 years," said Rolando Platon, chief of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department. The Department is going through hard times, foremost of which is the eventual compulsory retirement of all of its 180 personnel come midnight of July 16.

Labiste, M. D. (2004, July 10-16). Gloom descends on Seafdec. The Visayas Examiner, p.1.