August 21, 2012

As flooding due to typhoon "Helen" which hit some parts of Philippine's Luzon provinces August 14, resulting more fish cage and fishpond operators in the Ilocos Region were added to the list of victims affected by previous two typhoons and monsoon rains.

Preliminary reports indicated that the losses in terms of bangus and tilapia stocks amounted to some PHP780,000 (US$18,400) and damages to facilities were pegged at PHP26,000 (US$614).

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 1 director Nestor Domenden reported that at least 113 fish operators were affected -- 102 in Pinili, Ilocos Norte and 11 in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur and Sto. Tomas in La Union.

Aside from the fingerlings which escaped from the fish cages and damaged dikes, some 7.5 tonnes of marketable size tilapia was also lost during the storm.

Earlier, the damages to fish cage/farm operators wrought by the succession of typhoons "Ferdie" and "Gener", followed by the heavy monsoon rains already totalled close to PHP584 million (US$14 million), according to the report of the BFAR.

About 96% or PHP562.3 million (US$13.3 million) of the total value comes from losses in terms of cost of inputs such as feeds and market value of fish. Moreover, at least 7,981 fish pond and fish cage operators from Regions 1-4A and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were affected.

Region three remains to be the hardest hit of all the regions with 8,827 hectares or 21% of the total production areas affected.

Fish damages in terms of cost of inputs and farm gate price were estimated at PHP507 million (US$12 million) and damages to facilities at PHP12.7 million (US$300,000). The number of operators affected is 6,225 or 78% of the total for all regions.

BFAR director Asis G. Perez had instructed all hatcheries operated by BFAR regional offices not affected by the typhoons to reserve bangus and tilapia fry for distribution to affected fish operators once the weather condition becomes favourable for grow-out.

Perez assured the public that the supply of bangus and tilapia remain stable at the National Capital Region (NCR). Most of these are sourced from the fish cages in Taal Lake where zero fish kill was attained this year due to proper resource management by all stakeholders.