Many University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) constituents were surprised when former Chancellor Francisco Nemenzo approved the naming of the present Administration Building of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines in the Visayas, in Miag-ao, Iloilo to Dr. Deogracias V. Villadolid Hall. They had never heard about this man before. Who was Dr. Deogracias V. Villadolid? Why honor him? Villadolid is not known among non-fisheries graduates. However, those who have been trained in fisheries know him in relation to the beginning of fishery science and fisheries education in the Philippines. It was Villadolid who introduced tilapia in the Philippines in 1950 when he was Director of the Bureau of Fisheries.

Cichon, M. F. (2020, August 19). Dr. Deogracias V. Villadolid: Father of Fisheries Education. Daily Guardian, pp. 8, 10.