CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines—With jellyfish increasingly recognized as both ecological wonders and public safety concerns, Samar State University (SSU) brought the conversation closer to home through “Beneath the Surface: Exploring Jellyfish Biology and Impact” held on August 29, 2025, at the Convention Center of the SSU Main Campus, Catbalogan City, Samar.
The event gathered 40 participants representing a wide range of sectors from across Samar Island. In attendance were the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMO) of Sta. Rita and Tarangnan, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Tarangnan, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Catbalogan, PCG-Western Samar Station, DepEd Allen, the Buri Baras Beach Cottage Owner Association, and aspiring researchers from SSU Mercedes Campus.
Through a series of lectures and interactive discussions on Jellyfish Biology by Ms. Christine Capidos, SSU Science Research Specialist, Local Jellyfish Species Identification by Mr. Renato Diocton, Director for Eastern Visayas Center for Crustacean Research and Development (EVCCRD), Understanding Jellyfish Venom by Asst. Prof. Blessilda L. Panis, faculty member at Samar Island Institute of Medicine (SIIM), Jellyfish Ecology and Role in the Marine Food Web by Mr. Andrew Gamba, faculty member at SSU Mercedes Campus, and Understanding Jellyfish Blooms and its Socio-Economic Impacts by Prof. Arizza Tan-Evardone, faculty member at University of Eastern Philippines. The various sessions provided participants with valuable crucial in both scientific research and community preparedness.
The program was made possible through strong collaboration with partner institutions, including the EVCCRD, University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region VIII (BFAR), the City Government of Catbalogan, the Philippines Jellyfish Stings initiative, and Thai zoologist Dr. Phuping Sucharitakul.
The program is part SSU’s ongoing commitment to advancing environmental research and awareness, particularly along coastal and marine concerns.