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By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) over the weekend suggested the use of mosquito larvae-eating fishes as city hall and other local governments in the region step up their respective anti-dengue campaigns.

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Over local radio, BFAR assistant director for northern Mindanao Teodoro Bacolod said local government officials here and elsewhere in Region 10 can send their requests for mosquitofishes. The requests would then be forwarded to Dr. Westly Rosario, director of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center of BFAR.

“Pareha ra kini sila kadagko og itsura sa bolinao. Kusog kini mokaon og waya-waya. Mabuhi usab kini siya sa mga stagnant waters og kanal,” Bacolod said, noting that no local government in Region 10 has propagated and used mosquitofishes in their anti-dengue campaign.

“The mosquitofish stocks are propagated and distributed by the center just like in Pangasinan provinces as part of their drive and combat against dengue,” Bacolod said.

The mosquitofish is classified as larvivorous fish that could thrive in shallow waters, fresh water, brackish water or even in areas that have doubled salinity.

The mosquitofish was first introduced in the Philippines in 1905, and instituted during World War II in more than 30 countries to prevent malaria.

Bacolod said BFAR has been dispersing its mosquitofish stocks to open sewers near schools.

He said requests from local governments are needed because there is no directive from the BFAR central office to distribute mosquitofish fingerlings in northern Mindanao.

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