New aquaculture facilities to diversify products
ALAMINOS CITY–Several new aquaculture facilities were opened last week in Barangay Lucap here by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to encourage fish farmers expand their operations to more diversified aquatic species.
The facilities, located at the Regional Mariculture Technology Demonstration Center (RMATDEC), include a land-based mariculture holding facility, plastic liner covered pond, abalone hatchery, siganid hatchery, aqua zoo, and an administration training and dormitory building.
At the inauguration, BFAR Region I Director Nestor Domenden said that the construction of the facilities is in response to the growing and changing needs of the mariculture industry in the region and in the rest of the country.
The project is also in line with the call of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the modernization and upgrading of fisheries and agriculture industries through partnerships with stakeholders, including producers, processors, feed millers and marketers.
“We take this opportunity to commit to the stakeholders the utilization of these facilities to truly support the growing mariculture and aquaculture industries,” Domenden said.
LOCAL SUPPORT
City Administrator Wilmer Panabang, representing City Mayor Hernani Braganza, said the local government fully supports BFAR’s initiatives as 3,000 of the 8,000 families in Alaminos live in proximity to the sea, with marine resources as their main means of livelihood.
“The city is committed to all the programs of the BFAR because it is only through these that we will be able to improve the living of our constituents,” Panabang said.
BFAR National Director Atty. Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. expressed confidence that the local community will be able to manage the facilities.
“You can put up anything if you have adequate funds. But the people who will man this facility will make the difference. Kung magpatayo lang ng mga pasilidad na ganito, kung hindi naman natin sila imo-motivate walang kahihinatnan na maganda. What we need, and I think what Lucap has already shown this in the past is the passion for more work, passion to work with the fisherfolk and passion for innovation,” Sarmiento said. (PIA-Pangasinan)
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