SPC to honor fallen DOST director

The Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative is planning to honor the late director of the Dept. of Science and Technology by naming after him the rehabilitated reef in nearby Camiguin province.

Jojo Rodgriguez of the SPC said DOST Director Caesar Pagdilao died of heart attack last week in Metro Manila. He was buried last Saturday.

"Through DOST Secretary Mario Montejo and Director Pagdilao around 20,000 coral fragments were planted all over the country. This is under the Filipinnovation program of the DOST," said Rodriguez Monday.

The SPC, in coordination with the DOST, has been in the forefront of planting coral fragments in the country hoping to restore the damaged coral reefs.In Boracay, partners include the Malay municipal government and the Boracay Association of Scuba Diving Schools.

"Director Pagdilao has been a great help for our nationwide coral reef restoration program. This is the reason why we are planning our project in Camiguin as Cesar Pagdilao Reef so that he would always be remembered," said Rodriguez.

Virna Salac of the DOST Central Office in a telephone interview said Monday that aside from the Coral Reef Restoration, Director Pagdilao was also known in the DOST as champion for balancing food security and the environment.

"We consider Director Pagdilao as a great loss to the DOST as he was able to help thousands of Filipino people under his leadership," said Salac.