As the Data Management Component Leader of the USD86M ADB/JBIC-loan program, the tasks completed: (i) designed, developed and deployed (installation) of all databases to ensure seamless integration; (ii) specified the physical network and wireless infrastructures, hardware and software configurations; (iii) designed and participated in information and educational campaign aimed to facilitate the integration of PhilFIS onto the main stream of government and educational systems; and (iv) coordinated with several government agencies to facilitate data exchange. A data management centre (now called, Philippines Fisheries Information Management Center), was constructed and inaugurated in December 2001 to house the state-of-the-art servers and all national databases.
(Fisheries Science/Management Modeling)
International Center for Living Aquatic Resource Management (ICLARM)
Philippines (now in Malaysia)
The mid-management position in the organization comes with a range of duties in support of the research activities of the center. These included tasks from conceptualization to strategic distribution of mathematical models in software form (Microsoft Visual Basic 6.x; Microsoft C ; Microsoft Access; VB/JavaScripts), documenting the software package developed, maintenance of published software packages, conduct of training courses to enhance user efficiency related to the software developed/published, and maintaining communication with users. Also, technical supervision of most IT related activities and IT personnel in the organization, and assisted in the system design of IT related issues of other projects in the center (e.g. FishBase).
Written and published 29 documents (see Publication List below) and developed over 10 software packages. Some of these software products have become standards in fisheries science data analyses. As the IT Project/Component leader in a Team of Peers environment for IT components of projects, took leads in the formulation of the team members (recruitment when appropriate), formulation of common vision (with close collaboration of the product manager, in this case the fisheries scientist) and development of the Risk Assessment Document to facilitate the analysis, planning, monitoring and control of IT projects. Designed IT systems with entities-relations diagrams; data flows, table definition and report processes. Adopting a Water Fall model to system developments, established the milestones, and allocated resources (human, materials and time) and evaluation procedures. Most of the software packages produced were developed for deployment on Microsoft Windows Operating Systems environment using programming languages such as Microsoft Visual Basic (versions 5 and 6) and occasionally, Microsoft Visual C/C . On-line help or web-based help utilities are usually developed and deployed as part of the software package.
The two notable accomplishments are: (1) the publication of the FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools, which is packaged with a User’s Guide and Reference Manual published jointly with Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Many research and learning institutions now adopt the package as a standard. The software includes over 100 modules (largely with associated relationships) and some contains complex optimization algorithms; and (2) the release and deployment of the Fisheries Resource Information System and Tools (FiRST), which is a regional effort (South and Southeast Asia) with over 15 IT staffs from eight countries (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) contributing efforts. This project utilized VB 6.0 to develop the graphic user interfaces (GUI) and networks to the database engine (DBE).
October 1984 – June 1987
Scientific Programmer
German Agency for Technical Cooperation Ltd. (GTZ), Germany
The terms of reference included duties to conceptualize and develop analytical software for the analysis of fisheries length-frequency data with graphical outputs to facilitate data analyzes, and assist scientist in the conduct of computer-related training courses designed for university researchers and professors.
Two software packages were developed incorporating graphical presentation of the data and results of the analyses – considered by most, as the first interactive microcomputer-based software in tropical fish stock assessment. The packages were deployed on HP 85/86/87 microcomputers. The programming language used was HP Basic.
July 1984 - October 1984
System Analyst/Programmer
Philips Components, Inc. (Philippines)
Designed and developed the company’s payroll system (microcomputer-based) and assisted the development and completion of the personnel evaluation system (IBM 360/370 minis on RPG II).
June 1983 - June 1984
Senior Instructor/Systems Programmer
Philippines Microprocessor Systems Inc. (Philippines)
Tutored advance Electronic Data Processing (EDP) courses (includes among others, programming in BASIC language, introduction to Operating Systems, and introduction to System Analysis and Design), and developed customized microcomputer-based accounting systems for company customers (Billing Systems; Accounts Receivable; Accounts Payable; Payroll System; and General Ledger) in dBase III/IV environment.
Pioneered and organized the company’s learning center with 5 other instructors and developed IT course curriculums (computer operations, programming, and system design and analysis) that was later adopted by the company as a template for all their other learning centers in the Philippines.
February 1983 - May 1983
EDP Instructor
Electronic Data Processing and Technical Services, Inc. (Philippines)
Tutored basic courses in Electronic Data Processing (EDP) courses to junior/new students.