October 27, 2010

 

Philippines launches first public-private tilapia hatchery project

 

 

Philippines' Davao Region's has opened the first-ever public-private tilapia hatchery project in a poor local coastal village to help its struggling small-scale farmers.

 

Governor Corazon Malanyaon believes this is the best strategy to fight the famine rampant especially in remote provincial villages. The PHP575,000 (US$13,329) tilapia hatchery and nursery centre is unprecedented in the village of Tibanban in the municipality of Governor Generoso.

 

As Malanyaon's initiative, the tilapia hatchery project is receiving the full backing of the provincial and municipal governments plus the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The provincial government funded 40% of the project at PHP225,000 (US$5,216), while BFAR and the municipal government of Governor Generoso gave PHP175,000 (US$4,057) and PHP50,000 (US$1,159), respectively.

 

Rudy Rubio, small-scale farmer and owner of the 2 ha property where the tilapia hatchery and nursery centre was built, gave PHP125,000 (US$2,898).

 

President Benigno Aquino III has issued Executive Order No. 8, which created the Public-Private Partnership Centre of the Philippines, seeking to boost the financing, construction and operations of important government infrastructure schemes.

 

The centre is meant to assist local government units in the execution of projects, provide advisory services for preparation and development, recommend policies, monitor all projects and manage and administer the revolving fund, or Project Development and Monitoring Facility.

 

In addition, Malanyaon is working toward wholesale changes in aquaculture techniques to protect the environment and guarantee demand. Her programme will concentrate on enhancing the participation of the private sector in the provision of public services and infrastructure, as the government cannot afford to pay for the construction of new facilities.

 

George Campeon, BFAR regional executive director in Southern Mindanao, said the government is moving to set up more mariculture parks and freshwater aquaculture.

 

Furthermore, the provincial government has already built the 500-hectare Pujada Bay Mariculture Park in the capital town of Mati.

 

Rotchie Ravelo, technical assistant of the provincial government's Pagkain at Kita Programme, said four more tilapia hatchery and nursery centres will be established in the municipalities of Lupon, Manay, Caraga and Cateel.

 

The provincial government intends to grow tilapia production from 70 to 120 hectares and increase production from 176 tonnes to 456 tonnes.

 

For milkfish, the plan is to expand production areas from 700 to 1,201 hectares and increase production from 3,100 tonnes to 9,600 tonnes. For marine fish, production will go from 9,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes.