DA-BFAR IX TURNOVERS HDPE MARINE FISH CAGES TO BOOST AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION

The Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Regional Office IX
spearheaded by Regional Director Al-Zath K. Kunting, RFP, turnovers two units 10-meter diameter High-
Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Marine Fish Cages to the Western Alicia Fisherfolk Association (WAFA) on
August 7, 2023 through a signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the DA-
BFAR IX, the LGU of Alicia, represented by municipal Mayor Aldin B. Musa, Al-hadj, and the Fisherfolk
association beneficiary, represented by WAFA President Mr. Aflredo M. Sanchez. The said activity was
held at Dawa-dawa Gymnasium, Brgy. Dawa-dawa, Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The project is composed of two units 10-meter diameter HDPE Marine Fish Cages, also known as
Norwegian Fish Cage due to the origin of the technology, commercial feeds for one cropping, 30,000
pieces of bangus fingerlings, a floating house, two units Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Boats, and
Php50,000.00 worth of Labor and Wages for five months of operation. The project would have a
cropping estimate of 5.4 tons per cage with a calculated value of Php1.5 million per cropping.

RD Kunting in his message, assures the fisherfolk beneficiaries of DA-BFAR IX's continuous support,
which includes post-harvest interventions such as market linkages and transportation assistance for
their harvests. Meanwhile, Mayor Musa assures the LGU's role and commitment in the project for its
successful operation.

The project is one out of four HPDE Marine Fish Cages to be established in the identified sites in the
region as part of the bureau's aquaculture development program to boost fish production in the
Zamboanga Peninsula. This is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s commitment to increase
fish production and part of his administration's efforts for the country's food security, and economic
stability gearing towards the #bagongpilipinas.