Yap okays release of P8M for Palawan hatchery

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap has approved the initial release of P8 million to modernize the facility of the Sta. Lucia Marine Multi-Species Finfish Hatchery in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

The release of the P8 million is part of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) effort to improve aquaculture and fishery production in Palawan.

During his recent visit to Puerto Princesa, Yap lamented the lack of modern facilities in Palawan.

Thus, to support the modernization, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the City Government of Puerto Princesa represented by BFAR national director Malcolm I. Sarmiento and Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn, was recently signed.

According to Yap, once the hatchery is rehabilitated and modernized, the volume of fingerlings would increase.

The private sector, in turn, Yap said would then invest capital "because there is this support facility to expand the production."

Director Sarmiento said that the BFAR has embarked on establishing hatcheries for high value species, not only to promote and develop aquaculture in the Philippines, but to contribute more significantly to food security as well as to provide livelihood and income to the people.

The reliable and adequate supply of fry and fingerlings of high value species from the Sta. Lucia hatchery is intended to pave the way towards viable operations of sea cages to be located in the mariculture parks to be established jointly by the BFAR and Puerto Princesa City as stipulated in the MOU.

The BFAR and Puerto Princesa City agreed that both parties would promote the development of fisheries by jointly managing and operating the Sta. Lucia Hatchery and establishing a joint committee to formulate a Hatchery Development Plan.

The BFAR would administer the hatchery, providing it with a regular budget.

The BFAR would maintain and assign its staff and employees while the City, in accordance with the Hatchery Development Plan, would supplement the hatchery’s budget and the manpower of the facility by hiring qualified breeding experts and consultants.

Mayor Hagedorn disclosed that Puerto Princesa and Palawan as a whole, supplies 50 percent of Metro Manila’s fish.

Palawan, thus, Mayor Hagedorn said contributes to the country’s food sufficiency in terms of commercial fisheries.

"But now, with the assistance coming from the DA and BFAR, rest assured that the biggest supply of fish would come from Puerto Princesa and Palawan," Mayor Hagedorn assured.