The College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS), UP Visayas (UPV) equipped its faculty, staff, and students on laboratory safety and hazardous chemical waste management through a seminar-workshop conducted on June 23, 2026 at the FC conference room, CFOS, UPV Miagao.
Spearheaded by Prof. Dr. Mae Grace G. Nillos and Dr. Feby E. Carmen, this initiative aimed to strengthen quality assurance and safety standards within the academic programs of CFOS to minimize operational risks such as fires, injuries, and toxic exposure by enhancing the knowledge and skills of participants on the proper handling and management of hazardous laboratory wastes, with emphasis on biosafety practices and responsible waste disposal.
Forty participants from the different CFOS institutes, graduate students, and project staff attended lectures and practical exercises to equip them with essential skills for handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous chemical wastes.
The lectures were given by UPV experts who presented critical components of laboratory protocols and regulatory compliance.
Mr. Leandro T. Gamarcha, RCh, University Research Associate II and the Laboratory Manager of the Dept. of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, opened the technical sessions by outlining standard laboratory safety and emergency protocols.
Dr. Feby E. Carmen, RCh, University Research Associate II, Nutrition Laboratory of the Institute of Aquaculture, CFOS, taught participants how to identify and classify hazardous materials waste in the laboratory, and led a segment on proper storage and labeling.
Mr. Luke Dranoel D. Atencio, University Researcher I and Biosafety Officer of the UPV Regional Research Center, presented the proper handling and management of microbial waste including culture media, bacterial waste, and biosafety considerations.
Meanwhile, Engr. Chelsea P. Mendoza, UPV Pollution Control Officer, detailed the precise regulatory procedures for proper storage, labeling, and pick-up of hazardous chemical waste from respective units and colleges.
In the afternoon, the participants actively participated in the hands-on exercises. They were tasked with categorizing and labeling existing chemical wastes generated by each laboratories of the Institute of Fish Processing Technology (IFPT), Institute of Aquaculture (IA), and the Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology (IMFO).
The initiative includes a long-term monitoring plan to keep a safe working environment and ensure an updated record of chemical inventory.
A specialized team will conduct quarterly post-monitoring evaluations of all institutes to audit disposal practices.
The activity is the first installment in a planned series of administrative and academic training sessions of the College for 2026 in line with its quality assurance.
The CFOS has more than 15 academic and research facilities including specialized chemistry and biology labs, a Seafood Processing Plant, and the Multispecies Hatchery Complex.
Text and Photos by: Lenilyn B. Gallos
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