SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro sees the bangus (milkfish) industry in the province booming again with the construction of a new multi-species marine hatchery in Barangay San Agustin this November.
Municipal Agriculturist Romel Calingasan, during the first Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council meeting, said that once operational, the hatchery will supply bangus fry, tilapia fingerlings, and other marine species to fish farmers within and outside the province.
Calingasan explained that the hatchery will be run by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for two years, after which control will be transferred to the local government of San Jose.
Republic Act 11811 mandates BFAR to oversee research and development programs focused on the breeding of marine species and the identification of new techniques and technologies that will help boost the fisheries industry.
The hatchery construction, funded by BFAR, has a budget of ₱30.56 million.
Earlier, Calingasan said that the production of bangus in the province was once robust. However, the industry faced setbacks when local fish farmers could no longer find sufficient supplies of bangus fry.
As a result, they were forced to import from distant locations like Iloilo City, Cebu City, or Quezon Province, he added.
He added that the transportation of bangus fry proved difficult, with many fish farmers choosing to switch to other livelihoods due to the risks involved.
“If the fry lose oxygen during transport, they are certain to die,” he pointed out.
According to him, some bangus growers even experienced purchasing 10,000 fry only for about 1,000 to survive the journey to San Jose.
Despite these challenges, Calingasan is optimistic that the new hatchery will revive the bangus industry and increase the number of tilapia farmers in the area.
Construction of the multi-species marine hatchery will begin on November 14 and is expected to be completed within eight months. (VND/PIA MIMAROPA–Occidental Mindoro)
