The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has asked for technical support from the Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) based in Iloilo for the establishment of hatcheries for King Crabs and Oyster in the town of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
On the way home to Cotabato on Tuesdeay from a two-day discovery trip on the potentials of Zamboanga Sibugay for aquaculture and fisheries, I called up SEAFDEC Director Dan Baliao and suggested a collaboration between SEAFDEC and MinDA for the development of Mindanao’s fisheries and aquaculture.
SEAFDEC Director Baliao welcomed the proposal and submitted the areas of cooperation between the two agencies.
The proposal for a MinDA-SEAFDEC technical cooperation came after I learned from the fisherfolk and officials of Kabasalan during a visit on Tuesday that they needed support in producing more spawns for their growing Oyster and King Crab industry.
As of now, the fisherfolk families of Kabasalan led by Ruperto Magbanua Ballon source their crablets for the growing of King Crabs from Surigao.
The Oyster spawns, on the other hand, are gathered from the wild and “planted” in Oyster gardens at the mouth of the huge Kabasalan river where the water is brackish.
Kabasalan Mayor Katrina Cainglet-Balladares said that the town’s fisherfolk organization could produce more if only they are supported with spawns and crablets, including fingerlings for Sea Bass, Grouper and Red Snapper which they grow in fish cages.
She said that the daily production of Oysters is abourt 700 kilos while the town, along with nearby tons of Siay, Kumalarang and other aquaculture production areas could hardly supply the huge market demand for King Crabs.
On Wednesday, I instructed the legal department of MinDA headed by lawyer Kristine Quibod to prepare a draft MOA for the technical collaboration between MinDA and SEAFDEC.
I will schedule a signing of the MOA with Dan Baliao in Iloilo next month.
#TravelIsTheBestTeacher!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
(Photo of the King Crab was downloaded from the website of the Department of Agriculture.)
More Stories
Trump Presidency Boon To Philippine Agriculture
Mindanao Fruit Fest Scheduled Sept. 2025
DA, MinDA, LGU! MinDA Targets Tribal Areas For Highland Rice Farming