GMA visits Mariculture Park

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo recently visited the Jorona Aquatic Resources at the Mariculture Park in Davao and was briefed by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap on the fish caging facilities and potential business opportunities.

To date, the park, established in 2001, has nine investors and is well coordinated and supported by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 11 as it also assists local fisherfolk.

Its largest investor, Jorona Aquatic Resources, which started its operations in Sitio Leydao, Barangay Adecor in Kaputian district on the Island Garden City of Samal in 2003, is a marine grower and a well-known exporter, thus benefiting the park.

Jorona Aquatic Resources is owned by Naido Duldulao, who hails from Laoag City, together with Chinese and Taiwanese investors.

Starting out with milkfish, it now exports other fish types to the United States and other countries. It has built a processing plant, enabling it to accept direct foreign buyers and even help process the fish harvests of other small growers.

Duldulao and Jeremias Macario, Jorona president and administrative manager, respectively, said the company is now enjoying the support provided by the government.

The BFAR has put up monitoring stations and guardhouses while the local government has provided security personnel in the area.

The Mariculture Park continues to entice more local and foreign investors and locators.