MindanaoToday.com | Multispecies marine hatchery inaugurated in Lanao del Norte town
SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO, Lanao del Norte – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has recently inaugurated a Multispecies Marine Hatchery in Barangay Koreo in this town.
The hatchery’s construction was funded through Republic Act 10860, which was proposed and authored by former Lanao del Norte Representative Abdullah Dimaporo and passed by the Senate with the assistance of Senate Agriculture and Food Committee Chairperson Senator Cynthia Villar.
The hatchery aims to produce 25 million milkfish fry annually, which can benefit the aquaculture sector, particularly the pond owners in the province, and could also supply other provinces in Northern Mindanao.
“For the multispecies hatchery, priority goes to marginalized or municipal fisherfolk. Kami nanghinaot nga ang kalihokan sa BFAR kaabag ang lokal nga gamhanan sa Lanao del Norte makatabang sa paghinayhinay nga matubag ang kakulangon sa atong pagkaon ug nutrisyon ug kini makahatag sa ilang mga dugang nga panginabuhian sa small-scale fisherfolk. [For the multi-species hatchery, the marginalized or municipal fisherfolk are the priority. We hope that the activities of BFAR in cooperation with the local government in Lanao del Norte will help to address the lack of food and nutrition and will provide additional livelihoods to the small-scale fisherfolk],” said BFAR-10 Regional Director Edward Yasay.
Meanwhile, in her video message, Villar emphasized the role of hatcheries in supporting fisheries production.
“As a senator from 2016 to 2022, I have passed 41 legislated fish hatcheries in 57 sites nationwide. The legislated hatcheries intend to support fisheries production and fish availability in the market in our country. To the local government of Sultan Naga Dimaporo (SND), congratulations. May you fully utilize and develop these multispecies marine hatcheries, and together let us achieve food security in our country,” she said.
The local government of SND expressed gratitude for the project’s significance, recognizing its substantial assistance to small-scale fisherfolks.
Veterbo Cordovez Jr., the officer-in-charge Municipal Agriculturist, emphasized the significant support the hatchery can provide to local small-scale fishers. With the hatchery’s presence, there’s no need for them to seek resources elsewhere, as they can obtain fry or fingerlings locally. According to him, the initiative greatly aids in sustaining their livelihoods and directly impacts the lives of the fisherfolk community.
“Akong pag-ampo sa atong labaw nga makagagahum nga tabangan ta aron masustain ni bisan sa sumusunod nga henerasyon, sa administrasyon nga mugunit sa LGUs, mapabilin gihapon kani nga hatchery. Ug dili lang sa atong probinsya maserbisyohan ani, ang tibuok Pilipinas, ug makagawas pa ni. [My prayer is for our highest authority to help us sustain this, even for the succeeding generations, in the next administrations that will lead local government units to keep this hatchery operational. And not only to serve our province but the entire Philippines, and even beyond],” said Mayor Motalib Dimaporo.
BFAR will oversee the hatchery’s management, which will later be turned over to the provincial government. (LELA, edited by RTP/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
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