© KD Abrogueña
The 12-day programme gathered 14 personnel from various BFAR offices and facilities, including the Central Office and regional offices from Central Luzon, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga.
At the opening programme, BFAR-3 Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz emphasised the importance of a skilled workforce to support the National Bangus Development Program (NBDP) of the Philippines.
“With this training, I hope we can reach our target and make the country self-sufficient in fry production,” he told the trainees.
Throughout the course, SEAFDEC/AQD’s specialists delivered lectures on topics such as milkfish biology, broodstock management, hatchery design, natural food culture, biosecurity protocols, brackish water nursery management, pond site selection and preparation, milkfish grow-out culture, fish diseases and feed formulation.
Other than lectures, trainees engaged in hands-on activities, like larval rearing tank setup, plankton identification, and milkfish fry harvesting, packing and transport.
These sessions were conducted across SEAFDEC/AQD facilities at its Tigbauan Main Station and Dumangas Brackishwater Station, both in Iloilo, and Igang Marine Station in Guimaras.
“Although the training duration was short, it covered the important and critical days in milkfish larval rearing. The lessons and hatchery practices were backed up by research. I recommend SEAFDEC to anyone looking to pursue training in aquaculture,” said Grace Abdala from the BFAR Central Office.
SEAFDEC/AQD chief Dan Baliao highlighted the crucial role of training in advancing the Philippines’ aquaculture sector.
“Training equips individuals with the necessary tools and techniques to address the evolving challenges of aquaculture,” he said during the closing ceremony. “My challenge for you is to give your best, stand out from our Southeast Asian neighbours, and make the country’s milkfish industry a formidable one.”
The trainees were the last of three batches of BFAR staff trained under the Philippines’ NBDP to reduce reliance on imported milkfish seed.
