The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) ECAN Monitoring and Evaluation Division (EMED) and District Management Division (DMD)-South attended the launching of “Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) Watch Project” at Hue Hotel, November 21.
The Commission of Higher Education-funded project “Real Time Monitoring and Early Warning for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) using High Throughput Imaging and Molecular Method (HABs Watch)” is being led by the UP Marine Science Institute under Dr. Deo Florence Onda, Deputy Director for Research and the University of California-Santa Cruz in collaboration with eight (
different HEIs in the country.
In partnership with 10 universities in the Philippines including Palawan State University & Western Philippines University, the HABs Watch Project aims to assess and document the occurrence of harmful algal bloom or ‘red tide’ in the Philippines using state-of-the-art Imaging Flow Cytobot (IFCB), an in-situ automated submersible imaging flow cytometer that generates images of particles entering the vessel. These data and images shall be transmitted via network where it can be processed and analyzed offsite.
The Project also aims to implement real-time monitoring technologies for harmful algal blooms (HABs) or red tides, and capacitate Filipino researchers with relevant skills and technical know-how to study HABs in the Philippines. As such, its data and information will be instrumental in PCSD՚s environmental monitoring, evaluation, and policy development initiatives.
The said Project has initially started on July 1 and will be running until June 2024.
