Pact inked to push P30-m Oro’s freshwater hatchery

AIMING to establish hatcheries to produce seeds and accelerate aquaculture development in Mindanao, a freshwater hatchery worth P30 million will soon be developed on a two-hectare land in Malasag, Barangay Cugman.

Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the memorandum of agreement was signed on September 23, this year.

Through the request and effort of Rodriguez, the government land that will be used for the project is under a tenurial instrument held by the Pelaez Ranch Inc. headed by its president Eduardo Pelaez.

A freshwater hatchery is a place for artificial breeding, egg hatching, and the early life stages of aquatic animals that caters to multiple species of fish, according to Rodriguez.

Hatcheries are developed to assist the aquaculture industry increase productivity and sustaining their livelihood.

“The area of land chosen is a prime location for a hatchery, according to (the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources), as water will be sourced directly from the Bigaan River, so we thank Mr. Eduardo 'Bong' Pelaez for such generous permission,” Rodriguez said.

“I am very passionate about the freshwater hatchery project as it would greatly benefit our local fisherfolks by increasing the fish supply and creating additional employment as well as income opportunities for the Kagay-anons,” he added.

The agreement detailing the undertaking was signed by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Eduardo Pelaez of the Pelaez Ranch Inc., DENR-10 Regional Director Henry Adornado, BFAR-10 Regional Director Teodoro A. Bacolod, Jr., and City Agriculturist Pat Gonzales representing the local government unit.

During the signing of the agreement, the Kagay-anon lawmaker expressed his profound appreciation to the Pelaez family, DENR, and BFAR for their commitment to uplifting the aquaculture and fisheries sector of the city.

It can be noted that during his 100 days in the 19th Congress, Rodriguez refiled his bills seeking to establish freshwater hatcheries in barangays Agusan, Balubal, Cugman, FS Catanico, Indahag, Tablon, and Puerto.