A NEW modified intensive tilapia hatchery (MITH) in the town of Peñarrubia in Abra is set to start production of tilapia fingerlings for the community, giving local fisherfolk a new source of income and strengthening the municipality’s food supply.
A project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Cordillera office under its Fishery Production Program, the facility has been formally turned over by the BFAR to the Calm Springs Farmers and Fisherfolk Association, which will manage daily operations and oversee fingerling production.
Equipped with artificial incubation jars, a water-circulating system, fish tanks and a dedicated packaging area, the MITH is designed to support efficient breeding and rearing of tilapia fingerlings while promoting sustainable aquaculture practices.
The system allows for controlled hatching and early stage rearing, which can improve survival rates and standardize fingerling quality for grow-out operations.
For members of the Calm Springs Farmers and Fisherfolk Association, the hatchery also provides a way to utilize existing water resources in the area for livelihood purposes.
“Hopefully, this hatchery will be sustained as a source of livelihood for fisherfolk here in Peñarrubia,” association president Cristin Anjulita Si said.
BFAR-Cordillera Director Lois June Fermin said the MITH is part of the national government’s priority programs “focused on achieving fish sufficiency through sustainable aquaculture.”
She is also encouraging the association to properly manage the facility to maximize benefits for its members.
The project is also linked to the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program, which supports marginalized farming and fishing communities through livelihood projects and capacity-building.
Fermin said BFAR is aiming for the transformation of project beneficiaries into viable enterprises and self-sustaining groups by the end of the SAAD project term in 2028.
Once fully operational, the hatchery is expected to supply tilapia fingerlings to fisherfolk in Peñarrubia and neighboring municipalities.
The BFAR said that local production of fingerlings reduces dependence on suppliers from outside the province, lowers input costs for growers and shortens the supply chain for aquaculture inputs.
Association members will handle broodstock care, incubation, rearingand distribution, with technical guidance from BFAR.
The facility is also expected to contribute to local food security. Tilapia remains a common and affordable protein source in many households.