Dams Tilapia fingerlings stockings boost Tilapia production

In an effort to boost Tilapia fish production that would lead to lower the high prices of fish in the province, the
Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), Municipal Local
Government Units (MLGUs) through the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) are now using the NIA Dams in Bohol for
Tilapia Fingerlings stockings.

Last Tuesday, about 150, 000 Tilapia fingerlings were stocked at the Malinao Dam in Pilar, Bohol which has an
area of 143 hectares taking parts of five barangays namely: Población, Lumboy, Aurora, Pamacsalan and Del Pilar.
According to newly retired Pilar Municipal Agriculturist (MA) Carmen Cubrado that it would be the 6 th  Tilapia
Fingerlings stockings being done at Malinao Dam of which five during her time as MA and one after typhoon
Odette which was done last Tuesday.

During the preliminary program before the stockings of Tilapia fingerlings, Mayor Wilson Pajo of Pilar in his
message thanked the provincial government and BFAR to grant their request for fingerlings stockings at the dam.
Mayor Pajo said that this would create supplementary livelihood among fisherfolks in the locality when it
becomes harvestable after four to five months.

Pajo stressed that the municipal government has allowed free fishing at the dam. However, he emphasized that
the fisherfolks are not allowed to use the fine nets.  

He added that the fisherfolks are not also allowed to go on fishing when the water of the dam is below normal
level so as not to destroy the fingerlings at the dam.

Executive Assistant for Agriculture Nunila M. Pinat for and in behalf of Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado
said that the provincial government is always looking at the problem of high prices of fish caused by the low of
supply and demand.

Pinat said, the Tilapia Fingerlings stocking is part of the ISDA Program of the province aiming at lowering the
prices of fish by increasing fish production.

Queenie Madrio Atop, Chief- Fishery Division, OPA said that of the 150, 000 fingerlings, there are about 80%
survival rate or120, 000 Tilapia Fingerlings have been survived.

Atop stressed that if we value the 120, 000 Tilapia Fingerlings in four to five months that would probably weigh
to 30, 000 kilos at four to five pieces per kilo and to be sold at P160/kilo it will cost at P4, 800, 000.

The fingerlings stocking at the dams has no expenses because it does not require feeding but they will live free
range at the dam, Atop disclosed.

She said that during the coordination meeting with NIA and BFAR the other week held at the Office of the
Provincial Agriculturist Liza M. Quirog, 3 rd  Floor, New Capitol Building, Candido T. Samijon, Center Chief, CFFM
Caluasan, Clarin – BFAR DA-7 said that he asked NIA the areas of all the dams in Bohol for allocation of
fingerlings stockings with the ratio of 1, 000 fingerlings per one hectare.

There are four major dams in Bohol namely: Bayongan Dam in San Miguel, Capayas Dam in Ubay, Zamora
Dam in Talibon, and the Malinao Dam in Pilar, Bohol. By Atoy Cosap