WITH the apparent lack of fish supply and compounded by a cartel that controls the fish prices here, the local government is eyeing then on using irrigation dams and water impounding systems to step up on its fish production.
In its meeting November 25, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Agriculture led by chair Vice Governor Dionisio Victor A. Balite and Board members Lucille Y. Lagunay and Nathaniel O. Binlod represented by Lord Denell Binlod took on a letter from the governor endorsing a communication from the Office of the Acting Provincial Agriculturist requesting for a passage of a resolution requesting the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to allow Bohol to use its dams and impounding systems for tilapia through fish cage culture.
Acting Agriculturist Dr. Larry Pamugas asserted that there is a huge gap between fish supply and the rising demand for fish here.
The fact that tourism also brings in more potential consumers, exacerbate the need for more supply.
Still reeling from the devastating effects of Odette in its aquaculture and even its commercial fishing industry, Bohol’s desperate need for fish has so worsened that a month’s catch right now could only barely supply Bohol’s fish demands for a week.
Over this, Pamugas proposed for the need to expand fish production areas by using NIA dams and water impounding systems for aquaculture.
The idea to use dams and bodies of water in the Province of Bohol as growing areas for Tilapia farming came about as a means to further strengthen the fishery sector in the Province and boost farmer’s incomes, while adding functionality to the government built facilities.
Using the dams however, would need the expressed approval by the NIA, which would also need an SP Resolution to put more weight into the request for consideration.
The OPA is also set to partner with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to formulate the guidelines relative to its implementation of the project.
Pamugas hopes the project, when realized, will ultimately address the issues on supply and high prices of fishery products here.
The SP Agri-Committee then recommends for the body to pass a resolution requesting the NIA permission to use existing water resources in dams for tilapia fish cage construction and operationalization of fish cage culture in the entire province. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
