Outstanding Filipino women in fisheries and aquatic resources

By Madel V.Ricafrente
MediaCore, PCAMRD

Recipients of the Outstanding Filipino Women in Fisheries were honored during the closing ceremonies of the Department of Science and Technology-led 47th National Science and Technology Week at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City last July 18, 2005.

The awardees are Dr. Rhodora V. Azanza for the “Fisheries Scientist” category, and Floresma A. Dacuycuy for the “Fisheries Industry” category. Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria Concepcion III and DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro conferred the awards.

Dr. Azanza is the dean of the College of Science at University of the Philippines Diliman, where she works since 1972, rising from the ranks starting from research assistant.  She earned the award for her research projects on Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum, Kappaphycus and Eucheuma that addressed specific problems on toxic Pyrodinium blooms. 

She is also recognized for developing techniques and significant information on a lead-210 (210 Pb) facility for dinoflagellate cyst analysis.  She is also responsible for developing local capability to isolate and label saxitoxin for determining paralytic shellfish poisoning levels and Pyrodinium models for predicting the bloom dynamics.

Dr. Azanza’s pioneering work led to the establishment of a grazing experiment facility for biological controls of Pyrodinium.   In the academic field, she is also recognized for using novel approaches at teaching a course on the identification of harmful micro-algae, and later developed a website on harmful algal blooms.  Her publications gained international recognition for Philippine excellence in science.

Dr. Azanza’s researches on the harmful algal blooms or “red tide”, and the impact of the resulting technologies have been accepted with high regard by the scientific communities in the Philippines and internationally.

On the other hand, Floresma A. Dacuycuy was recognized for her outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the development of the fisheries industry, creativity in technology adoption, and encouragement of women’s participation in economic activities in fisheries. 

She is a pharmacist by profession, but an agriculturist/fishfarmer by vocation.  From managing a drugstore, growing orchids, then later into freshwater prawn or “ulang” production, she gets the best of both worlds. 

Dacuycuy now has an orchidarium and freshwater prawn hatchery that provide employment to neighbors.

Dr. Azanza and Mrs. Dacuycuy each received P50,000 and a plaque.

Posthumous awards were also conferred to Dr. Elvira O. Tan as Outstanding Filipino Woman Fisheries R&D Manager, Dr. Julia B. Pantastico as Outstanding Woman Fisheries Administrator, and Medina N. Delmendo as Outstanding Woman Fisheries Scientist.

After the awarding ceremony, a recognition party was held in honor of the awardees at Gerry’s Grill restaurant along Diosdado Macapagal Ave. , Pasay City.  Drs. Ma. Lourdes D. Palomares, Jurgenne H. Primavera, Melba B. Reantaso, and Filipina B. Sotto, all nominated for the awards were given plaques of appreciation during the party. 

Phillip L. Ong of TATEH Aqua Feeds and Juan P. Alegre of Argent Laboratories are co-sponsors of the search.