“Transforming research results into actions resulting in improved quality of living for fisherfolk communities”

Transforming research results into actions resulting in improved quality of living for fisherfolk communities is one of the primary drives of Dr. Hannibal M. Chavez, being a leader and a researcher himself.

Dr. Hannibal, a native of Kalibo Aklan and a resident of San Juan Del Monte City in Bulacan, was born on October 22, 1961. He graduated a Cum Laude of Bachelor of Science in Fisheries at Aklan State University, finished a Master’s Degree in Fisheries, majoring in Aquaculture Physiology at the Kagoshima University in Japan under The Monboshu Scholarship Program, and earned his Doctor in Fisheries Technology at Iloilo State College of Fisheries in Iloilo City under the BFAR Scholarship Program.

He has received recognition from respected organizations, including the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARD), which presented him with a Senior Author Incentive Award for his published work at the ISI globally referred journal. He has published numerous types of fisheries research in local and international referred journals.

Being the Regional Fisheries Research and Development Center Manager of BFAR Region 4A for 19 years, the Center has published 12 aquaculture techno-guides that aided the needs of several fisherfolk clients and private entities interested in aquafarming. Besides having his works cited by local and international scientists, he has also knowingly contributed to the first natural pompano spawning in the Philippines and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) areas. After that, he became the Chief of the Fisheries Production and Support Services Division (FPSSD) in BFAR 4A, which opened gateways of opportunities for him to improve the socioeconomic conditions of fisherfolk communities, most especially those into subsistence fishing.

Dr. Hannibal implemented successful technology demonstration projects on fish cage farming of milkfish, red tilapia, EXCEL tilapia, and silver pompano because he had the technical proficiency and innate passion for advancing aquaculture in the region mentioned above. Thus, it encouraged the private sector, local government units (LGUs), and fishing community associations to believe in and invest in fish cage farming. He further expanded his influence and took on the challenge to establish the Padre Burgos Mariculture Zone (PBMZ) in the Province of Quezon when he became the Mariculture Zone’s Regional Focal Person, which motivated more investors and resulted in a 120MT increase in fish production.

On February 26, 2020, he was designated Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Regional Director of the BFAR National Capital Region (NCR) Office, in recognition of his expertise, determination, and commitment to furthering the development of our fisheries industry. Though faced with budget constraints and a limited span of project implementation, particularly of the Bayanihan Project II, his Office launched and established the first Freshwater Aquaculture Park under the Taguig Agro-Industrial Hub for Freshwater Aquaculture and Urban Farming in Taguig City. These empowered and capacitated the 12 Association of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMCs) beneficiaries from the 12 lakeshore barangays of Taguig City into jumpstarting their aqua-enterprises amid the pandemic. To date, these FARMC associations are now a fully organized cooperative to upscale their aqua businesses in the urban areas of NCR.

He was able to justify the creation and existence of BFAR NCR with the help of the Human Resource Chief of the BFAR Central Office. He persevered in getting the Department of Budget Management (DBM) to approve 14 new plantilla positions for the said Office on May 25, 2022, which turned BFAR National Capital Region into a newly established Regional Office.

He also notably collaborated with significant agencies to establish the first Freshwater Aquaculture Park in the region mentioned above to increase the fish supply in Metro Manila. Also, oversaw the implementation of the Kadiwa Oplan Intensified Supply and Delivery of Agricultural Commodities (Kadiwa Oplan ISDA), which aimed to establish a strong direct link between the producers and the cooperatives and sellers of fish commodities and provide additional supply at an affordable price in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Further, he spearheaded the establishment of the NCR’s Regional Management Board in collaboration with its member LGUs’, involved academes, concerned private sectors, partner Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and other National Government Agencies (NGAs) to achieve sustainable fisheries management and empowerment of fisherfolk in the region. Through his active partnership with the LGUs, BFAR NCR has made a notable contribution to their responsiveness to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Fisheries Compliance Audit (FISHCA), which supported the LGU-Navotas City on receiving recognition from the said national Department.

Being the newly appointed Regional Director of the BFAR 8, Dr. Hannibal envisions being an instrument for more comprehensive, opportune, and effective implementation of fisheries programs and projects. As he takes on this new chapter of challenge, he looks forward to having an even more abundant, well-developed, and sustainably managed marine and fishery bounties of Eastern Visayas.