By Roel T. Amazona
TANAUAN, LEYTE, Oct 5 (PNA) — The provincial government of Leyte and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently released milkfish fingerlings (bangus) in this town’s Sta. Cruz village as part of the launching of the Integrated Culture of Oyster and Milkfish Improvement for Sustainable Aquaculture and Livelihood” project.
About 700 milkfish fingerlings were released in the village’s fish cages that are expected to be harvested after three months.
Currently, there are 15 fish cages and 10 oyster racks in the area and the plan is to increase the number to 40 fish cages and 25 oyster racks.
Systematic and enough spaces were observed in the construction of fish cages to prevent the occurrence of fish kill like what had happened in 2012.
Meantime, a bangus processing organization composed of wives of fishermen has been organized in Sta. Cruz. The group has 18 members to date.
The activity was graced by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, Mayor Pelagio Tecson Jr, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)assistant regional director Justerie Granali and Mr Atsuhiko Yamamoto, JICA Project Team Leader.
Governor Petilla said that the program does not only support the food sufficiency program of the provincial government but also aims to teach fishermen on how to become small entrepreneurs and not just depend on their daily catch as a means of income and livelihood.
“We want to promote entrepreneurship among fishermen. We want to train them to become businessmen and not just depend on their usual daily source of income,” said Petilla.
Granali during the visit at the production site of the processed bangus said that their agency is willing to help the women organization in bridging them with other agency to help improve their produce in terms of packaging and marketing.
The soft bone bangus product costs from P120 to P150 depending on the size of the fish. (PNA)