Alexander Domingo, acting provincial agriculturist said the provision of free tilapia fingerlings is in line with their intention to propagate the abundance of fish in the province.
“We still need to strengthen our fishery sector just like our sufficiency status on rice and this is one way of increasing our fish supply for food sufficiency,” he said.
This year, the provincial government through and the PAgrO has set aside more than P.173 million for aquaculture support services.
This will be used for extension support services such as technology demonstrations, trainings, technical assistance, training for deputy fish wardens, establishment of fish sanctuaries and patrol and surveillance against illegal fishing.
PAgrO also allotted more than P1.4 million for the operation and management of the Polloc Freshwater Fish Farm.
This will be used for fingerling production and dispersal of about 1 million pieces of tilapia and production of 600 kilos of marketable tilapia.
Domingo said they have already distributed 1.45 million pieces of Tilapia fingerlings to communal bodies of water and backyard fishpond operators.
These fingerlings, he said were sourced out from the Polloc Freshwater Fish Farm and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.