By Nova Veraley V. Grafe
As part of Negros Occidental’s 115th Cinco de Noviembre celebration, the provincial government awarded Dr. Angel Alcala as one of this year’s five Outstanding Negrenses.
Born in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Alcala was the president of SU from 1991 to 1992 and is currently a member of its board of trustees.
Among his pioneering works in the Philippines are the use of artificial reefs and the concept of community-based coastal resource management in the promotion of marine biodiversity.
Alcala, who is considered as the “father of biodiversity conservation program” in the country, is also presently the chairman of the Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management.
During his time as president, Fidel V. Ramos invited Alcala to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR ) as secretary. Following his post at the DENR , he became chairman of the Commission on Higher Education.
Alcala is a recipient of prestigious awards and fellowships, two of which are the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service and the Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation.
Early in 1988, SU named him Outstanding Sillimanian in Biological Sciences.
Alcala earned his biology degree, magna cum laude, from SU in 1951. He obtained his master’s and doctorate degrees in biological sciences from Stanford University in 1960 and 1966, respectively.
With reports from su.edu.ph and visayandailystar.com.
