March 29, 2024

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Cordillera turned over to the local government unit the Municipal Multi-specie Fish Breeding Center.

The Municipal Multi-species Fish Breeding Center at Sitio Lubo, Barangay Talubin is the first breeding center to be maintained by an LGU in Mountain Province.

The DA-BFAR-Cordillera provided P2.3 million for the improvement of the breeding center while the LGU provided P100,000 as counterpart.

Office of the Municipal Agriculturist Administrative Officer IV Ross Kiat-ong said the improvement of the breeding center, which commenced in December 2021 will not only cater to the demand of quality fingerlings in the municipality but will also serve as a learning and research facility for the students and the community.

Kiat-ong added the initial breeding operation would include tilapia, carp, and Japanese fish.

BFAR Provincial Field Officer Martha Estima who represented Director Lilibeth Signey, said the availability of an operational breeding center will reduce mortality during fry transport previously experienced from sourcing out fingerlings from neighboring provinces.

Estima asked the support of the local fisherfolks for the center’s sustainability and development.

Mayor Jerome Tudlong, Jr. expressed his gratitude to the DA-Cordillera for the agency’s continuous support to the municipality.

He said the breeding center would be a great avenue for development in the agriculture sector as it would provide employment and business opportunities.

He assured the support of the LGU to the local fisherfolks, saying one of the pillars of the current administration is economic empowerment, which focuses on the promotion of organic agriculture and recovery of local enterprise. Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen asked the support of the fisherfolks in the barangay for the development of the breeding center, saying it would be greatly beneficial not only for the community but also the municipality. – Christy Mae F. Che-es