Tilapia Festival
As part of the administration’s strategic direction for the development of the agri-fishery sector of the province,
the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) together with
the stakeholders has crafted various programs that would benefits the Tilapia raisers in Bohol.
According to Provincial Agriculturist Liza M. Quirog one of these is the PGBh through the OPA will conduct a
three-day Tilapia Festival slated on May 29, 30, and 31, 2024 to be held at the Old City Airport, Cogon, Tagbilaran
City.
Quirog said the festival aims to decrease the high prices of capture fishes in the markets; to present the Tilapia
cuisine to Boholano consumers in order to raise awareness and palatability; to encourage upland farmers and to
engage in upland aquaculture projects aside from rice farming as an additional income;
To develop awareness in the management and conservation of freshwater and aquatic culture to enhance the
resources; to provide livelihood to the farmers by producing marketable fish supply for sale; and, to enhance the
enterprise capability of the farmers through processing and marketing aspect.
She added that this event will also serve as a platform to showcase the province’s commitment to maintaining a
thriving and eco-friendly Tilapia industry; engage and educate the farmers, fishermen and attendees about the
significance of sustainable aquaculture.
During the opening program, Gov. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado will deliver his inspirational message as
Director Mario Ruinata, BFAR-7, Congressman Edgar M. Chatto (1 st District), Congresswoman Maria Vanessa C.
Aumentado (2 nd Dist.), Congresswoman Alexie B. Tutor (3 rd Dist.) will give their messages of support; while Quirog
will cite the rationale and Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte will do the welcome message.
The three-day event will be highlighted with different contests categories with prizes at stake to wit: Tilapia
Cleaning and Filleting, Most Promising Tilapia Processed Product/Cooking, Biggest Tilapia, Tilapia Festival Photo,
Tilapia-Speed Eating, Tilapia Deboning, Best Booth, Most Participative LGUs
Along with this initiative, Salvio Madanguit, Fish Buy Back Coordinator in the PGBh last Friday during the
Capitol Reports urged the Boholanos to eat inland fishes such as Bangus, Tilapia and Hito as alternatives to capture
o pelagic fishes whose supplies sometime become scarce and the prices are high.
Bohol despite the vast fishing grounds, there is still a gap on fish production as the demand is high to meet the
fish consumption among Boholanos.
Based on records of OPA, Boholanos consume 50, 522, 000 kilos of fish annually which is equivalent to over 50,
000 metric tons based on per capita consumption of 38.5 kilos per a Boholano annually for the province of having
1.3M fish eating population. But Bohol only got 231, 021, 000 kilos/year or 21 metric tons (42%) translating a
deficit of 29, 029, 000 kilos or 58%.
Increase inland fish production and patronizing these fishes to eat could really gradually address and neutralize
the high prices of fishes in Bohol, the provincial agriculturist concluded. By Atoy Cosap
AQUACULTURE FISHERIES. Provincial Agriculturist Liza M. Quirog urges the Boholanos to eat Tilapia,
Bangus and Hito to neutralize the high demand of scarce supplies of capture fishes and soaring its prices.
