Whiteleg shrimp and tilapia aquaculture facility launched in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has announced the launch of a new community Whiteleg shrimp and tilapia aquaculture facility in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.

On July 13th, the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Kababaihan at Mangingisda ng Sitio Bucana (SNKMB) held the groundbreaking ceremony for the new aquaculture facility in Sitio Bucana, Barangay San Jose in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.

“The aquaculture facility aims to provide a livelihood source to the community with the integration of intensive aquaculture technology in their fish farming practices,” said Boy de la Peña, DOST Secretary.

The project was made possible through DOST Mimaropa’s Community Empowerment Through Science and Technology (CEST) program in partnership with SNKMB, the local government unit of Roxas (LGU-Roxas), barangay LGU of San Jose (BLGU-San Jose), and Agritektura Enterprises, who designed the technology.

CEST is a program that aims to empower the poorest and most depressed communities in the country, via science and technology (S&T) interventions in health and nutrition, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, livelihood/economic enterprise development, and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

The DOST-Mimaropa noted that Barangay San Jose houses 793 households, 206 of which depend on fishing as their primary source of income. Many of them have no source of alternative income, especially in times where sea fishing is impossible due to inclement weather conditions.

“The intensive fish and shrimp production technology will provide a sustainable source of income for the members as there will be three harvesting seasons per year. The harvest will benefit members through direct selling of fresh seafood or value-adding,” said de la Peña.

Among those who attended the groundbreaking ceremony were Oriental Mindoro 2nd district Rep. Alfonso V. Umali Jr., Roxas Mayor Leo G. Cusi, Vice Mayor Gualberto Magno, Barangay Chairman Danny Talamisan, Agritektura’s ArchitectNeil Francis Quijano, and DOST-Mimaropa Provincial S&T Center in Oriental Mindoro Provincial S&T Director Jesse Pine.

Mayor Cusi expressed hope that the DOST intervention will change the lives of community members and will address their livelihood needs during the off-seasons.

SNKMB Chairman Robinhood Veloso also thanked the DOST-Mimaropa and partner agencies for their assistance and reassured them that they will work hard to make the project a success.

SOURCE: Manila Bulletin