SOUTHERN LEYTE, August 9, 2021 – Reaping the product of her hard work and dedication in Milkfish (bangus) Culture in Cage Farming, Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) beneficiary Jeaniver B. Calinog from Malitbog, Southern Leyte harvested 1,205 kilograms (kg) worth Php 287,121 during her second cropping.

Mrs. Calinog harvested medium to large-sized bangus on June 24, July 2, and July 20 from her 10 x 5-meter (m) bamboo fish cage which she independently installed. The bangus were sold to local fish vendors in Malitbog and nearby municipalities at Php160-180/kg.

In October 2020, Mrs. Calinog and five other beneficiaries from St. Bernard, Sogod, Libagon and Padre Burgos each received 6,500 pieces of bangus fingerlings worth Php 65,000 and feeds worth Php 61,320. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 8 Provincial Fishery Office (BFAR 8 PFO) distributed the inputs for their first cropping.

“Tinuod gayud nga maka benepisyo ang katawhan sa programa, ug daghang salamat sa SAAD program ug sa tanang tawo nga anaa sa programa,” said Mrs. Calinog when asked if the program fulfilled its promise of improving fish production and alleviating poverty among its beneficiaries.

(People truly benefit from the program, our heartfelt thanks to the SAAD program and to all the people involved in it.)

Since her first cropping in February 2021, Mrs. Calinog harvested 2,795kg bangus, garnering an income of Php 541,521 until the latest harvest. She also willingly shared her catch to each of her neighboring families.

Further addressing the hurdles which she encountered in aquafarming, the BFAR 8 PFO will provide an appropriate design of harvest nets, technical assistance on feed and feeding management, and faster access to input suppliers. It aims to help Mrs. Calinog and her community attain fish sufficiency through fish cage farming.

Mrs. Calinog will be installing another unit of bangus fish cage with high hopes of generating income through polyculture.

She sees it as an opportunity to help more municipal fisherfolk by hiring them as caretakers and laborers in this venture, raising the flag of fulfilling the real “SAAD” or “promise” of DA-BFAR toward “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita”. ###

Writer: Christine Gresola, Regional Information Officer- BFAR-Eastern Visayas

Copy-editor: Natalianne Marie O. Delos Reyes, PR and Communications Officer- SAAD NPMO