𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑 𝐗𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐲

Following the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the Red Tilapia Techno Demo Fishpond in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, BFAR National Director Elizer S. Salilig, MFT, and BFAR XI Regional Director Relly B. Garcia continued their commitment to aquaculture development with a visit to CBlue Aquafarm Ventures, Inc., a Davao Occidental-based hatchery. The officials were accompanied by Congressman Hon. Claude P. Bautista and assisted by the graduates of the BFAR Fisheries Scholarship Program now working as technicians at CBlue Aquafarm.

At Sitio Bagsak, Lacaron, Malita, the directors toured world-class facilities, including a hatchery, natural food farm, nursery, and broodstock ponds. The hatchery, currently 90% complete, is projected to become operational soon, aiming to meet the growing domestic demand for fish and potentially open export opportunities. The visit also included an inspection of CBlue Aquafarm’s floating cages and inland facilities at Sitio Udalo, Buhangin, Malita, where discussions focused on potential areas for operational enhancement.

CBlue AquaFarm Ventures Inc., operating under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), specializes in the culture and breeding of marine finfishes such as milkfish and other high-value species like grouper. The facility leverages strategic collaborations, including a partnership with Taiwan’s Ba Jiu Yi International Co. Ltd. and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), BFAR XI, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). These synergistic partnerships are instrumental in achieving national food security objectives, promoting healthy aquatic ecosystems, and contributing to the sustainability of global aquaculture production.

Increasing fish production through aquaculture is a key component of BFAR’s broader efforts to modernize Philippine fisheries, boost food production, and ensure the country’s food security. Director Salilig’s visit underscores BFAR’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen the aquaculture sector and contribute to the nation’s overall food resilience which inspires the private sector to take the challenge on this endeavor.