A training for fisherfolk on the proper handling and feeding of bangus fry was conducted recently by personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Siquijor local government unit.

The participants were taught Bangus Fish Cage Culture to equip them with technical expertise to manage the project. Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua said the livelihood project is intended to augment the income of the marginal fisher folk and provide them a livelihood project to supplement their family income, and also to provide a continuous supply of quality milkfish in the island.

The project is a roll-over scheme to expand the project in other barangays of the province. Portion of the sales from the harvested bangus will be set aside to procure feeds and bangus fingerlings for the second cropping. The remaining amount will be divided among the members of the fisherfolk organization.

Earlier, in Tigbawan, the fish cages harvested 1.4 tons of bangus, 1.3 tons in Cang-alwang while only 800 kilos in Tubod, San Juan because of the damages caused by strong winds on some nets.

In line with the government policy to achieve food security and to push for economic upliftment in the province, Fua also spearheaded the implementation of a P3 million livelihood project among fisherfolk - the Bangus Fish Cage Culture Project.

This was launched in Tigbawan, Lazi; Tubod, San Juan; and Cang-alwang, Siquijor and the P1 million used was taken from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Fua.

Each fish cage contains 7, 800 bangus fingerlings cultured inside the cage to grow in four months until it reaches harvestable sizes estimated at 3-4 bangus per kilo, and estimated harvest of 1.4 tons.

After seeing its profitability, Fua said he initiated the expansion of the project in Catamboan and Gabayan, Lazi; Cang-alwang and Dumanhog in Siquijor; Candaping B, Olang and Poblacion Sur in Maria; and Tulapos in Enrique Villanueva pouring in another P1 million and another P1 million from the BFAR-Region 7, amounting the total project cost to P3 million.

Supervising the over-all project implementation is Lee Dimagnaong of the Provincial Agriculturist Office.*RG

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