BFAR-7 showcased its aquaponics system during Cebu Province’s ECD launch on Friday, March 5. | Photo Courtesy of BFAR-7
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas (BFAR-7) gave over 5,000 tilapia fingerlings to Cebu Province as a gesture of support for its Enhanced Countryside Development (ECD) program that was formally launched on March 5, 2021.
Dr. Allan Poquita, BFAR-7 director, said that the fingerlings was part of the 1.5 million fingerlings that the bureau has committed to donate to the provincial government this year.
Earlier, the bureau also provided 205,000 fingerlings to the province for its SUGBUsog program that promotes backyard gardening or farming, including tilapia culture, and the new technology on aquaponics.
Poquita also gave to the provincial government a certificate that will facilitate the release of 100 fiberglass reinforced plastic boats worth P5 million to 22 Cebu municipalities.
Of these, 92 are designed as 20 footer boats with 6.5 hp marine engine and underwater fittings while the eight others are 30 footer boats with 16 hp marine engine with underwater fittings.
The fiberglass boat project is funded under the bureau’s Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET) program, which aims to alleviate the poverty status of the marginalized fishery sector by providing livelihood interventions to small scale or low-income fishers.
Meanwhile, BFAR-7 is also seeking to popularize the aquaponics system wherein people can grow vegetables and rear fish at the same time, boosting the aquaculture industry in the province. / dcb