MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, October 20, 2020 – Various fishery livelihood projects worth Php 925,000.00 were distributed to Mountain Province in a turnover led by CAR Regional Director Lilibeth L. Signey of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Provincial Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr.
The project inputs include 6 units of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) holding fish tanks; four units of non-motorized FRP boats; 500 fish crates; and three sets of solar-powered FRP fish tanks, which are part of the Php 3.8 million refocused budget of the BFAR-SAAD CAR for FY 2020.
The recipients of the fishery projects are:
| Projects | Recipients |
| Solar-powered FRP Fish Tanks (3 units) | Tadian Farmers Fisherfolk Irrigators Association |
| Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) – Nursery | |
| John C. Gumaad | |
| Non-Motorized FRP Boat (4 units) | Fangonon Aquatic Farm and Forest Developers Association (22 members) |
| 4H Club (15 members) | |
| Salvadora P. Latigo | |
| Local Government Unit (LGU)-Barlig | |
| FRP Holding Tanks (6 units) | LGU-Besao |
| LGU-Sagada | |
| LGU-Bauko | |
| LGU-Tadian | |
| LGU-Sadanga | |
| LGU-Barlig | |
| Fish Crates (500 pieces) | LGU-Besao (50 pieces ) |
| LGU-Sagada (50 pieces) | |
| LGU-Bauko (50 pieces ) | |
| LGU-Tadian (50 pieces ) | |
| LGU-Sadanga (50 pieces ) | |
| LGU-Barlig (50 pieces ) | |
| LGU-Natonin (50 pieces ) | |
| LGU-Paracelis (50 pieces ) | |
| LGU-Sabangan (50 pieces) | |
| LGU-Bontoc (50 pieces) |
“On behalf of the people of Mountain Province, I would like to thank the Department of Agriculture including BFAR for these interventions despite strict border entry protocols due to a pandemic crisis. We will look into how we can strengthen our agriculture sector, so for the benefits of our constituents we will maximize our efforts, congratulations to the project recipients,” said Governor Lacwasan.
“Three sets of solar-powered FRP fish tanks were distributed to enhance fish production in the province. The FRP fish tank is among the enhanced aquaculture projects which is part of the Php 3.8 million refocused budget of the Bureau in 2020 in response to COVID-19,” explained Director Signey.
Director Signey likewise added that each set has two FRP tanks with seven cubic meters’ capacity (3.5mx2mx1m) which can be stocked with 700 tilapia fingerlings for four months of culture period. A yield of 157 kilograms is projected at a 90% survival rate because of the life support using the aeration system. The FRP tanks are intended for those who have limited area for fish production, unlike the venturi aeration system which requires 1,000 square meters.
According to Marx Perfecto C. Garcia, BFAR-CAR Focal Person, “The two tanks can be stocked with fishes at once and at the same time can be grown with floating crops such as kangkong or pechay if we have a floating facility like that of aquaponics. It has an aeration system too, so we can double its stocking density. One significant factor in aquaculture is the dissolved oxygen (DO). Because the low DO may affect other water quality parameters and will likewise impair growth and survival rate of fish stocks.”
Mr. Robinson Pil-engen, the president of Tadian Farmers Fisherfolk and Irrigators Association (TAFFIA), extends his gratitude as a recipient of the set of solar-powered FRP fish tanks. “We are very thankful as one of the recipients, rest assured that we will sustain this project. We have a limited area in Tadian, so I converted my rice paddies into fishponds to try how we can make tilapia farming productive in our area,” said Mr. Pil-engen.
“Actually, other people in the lowland area wonder how a fish can thrive in the mountains, now this is a challenge for us to prove that we can also produce fish in the mountains,” he added.
Other than this, the 6 units FRP holding fish tanks were also distributed to the municipalities of Bauko, Besao, Sabangan, Sadanga, Sagada, and Tadian. These will be used to minimize mortalities of fingerlings before transporting them to the fishpond areas. In addition, the 500 pieces of fish crates will be equally distributed to the ten municipalities of Mountain Province.
Meanwhile, the four units of non-motorized FRP boats were distributed to Salvadora P. Latigo in Mayag, Bauko, 4-H Club in Palitud, Paracelis, MLGU-Barlig, and Fangonon Aquatic Farm and Forest Developers Association. The boats will be used in Lanas Lake, Tapao Lake, Tufob Lake, and Balinsoongan Lake respectively.
The activity was made possible in coordination with the Bureau’s Provincial Fisheries Office, PLGU, and the local government units. Thus, the occurrence of typhoon Pepito did not stop the bureau to conduct the activity. ###
Writer: Rodelyn Q. Foronda, BFAR-CAR Community Development Officer I
Copy Editor: Jennifer A. Valcobero, SAAD NPMO Public Relations and Comms Officer
Source of Photos: BFAR-CAR
