Davao City, Philippines – In a bid to strengthen local food security and promote sustainable aquaculture, the City Agriculturist’s Office (CAgro) is pushing for the passage of an ordinance declaring Lasang and Matina Aplaya as official mariculture parks.
Aimee C. Evora, acting head of CAgro’s Fishery Resources Management and Services Division, announced during the recent I-Speak media forum that the proposed ordinance has already passed first reading at the 21st Sangguniang Panlungsod and is now awaiting committee hearings.
“Our office is actively promoting the aquaculture program because it offers a more controlled environment. We can provide inputs to sustain fish production, which is crucial in achieving food sufficiency here in Davao,” Evora said.
Currently, Matina Aplaya hosts a mariculture livelihood project and is not yet classified as a mariculture park. Evora emphasized that once it is officially declared as such, it will allow the city government to establish clear regulations, impose prohibitions, and allocate necessary funding for operators and fisheries development.
From January to June 2025, the Punta Dumalag-Mariculture Livelihood Project, located within the Matina Aplaya area, yielded 390 tons of fish. With Lasang’s declaration as a mariculture park, Evora said the city could expect an even greater boost in production. The National Mariculture Center has already identified Lasang as highly suitable for such a project due to its favorable water currents and quality.
The city plans to raise high-value species like lapu-lapu (grouper) and talakitok (trevally) in Lasang, while Matina Aplaya focuses on bangus (milkfish), danggit, and kitang (rabbitfish). A fisherfolk association in Lasang currently operates a small-scale talakitok fishpen project, which Evora said could be expanded significantly once a mariculture park is established.
Meanwhile, CAgro continues its support for inland fisherfolk, particularly in upland and remote communities. From January to June this year, the office distributed a total of 190,000 fingerlings—165,000 tilapia and 25,000 hito (catfish)—to 317 beneficiaries. These fingerlings were sourced from the city government’s own hatchery, which boasts a high survival and production rate.
“The fingerlings we produce in our hatchery are the same ones we distribute to upland districts, and we’ve received positive feedback on their high survival rate,” Evora said.
To further support inland fish farming, CAgro has proposed a feed formulation seminar scheduled for August or September, aimed at assisting geographically isolated farmers who were previously trained in tilapia and hito culture.
CAgro also continues to implement the Project Lawa and Binhi Program—an inter-agency initiative that provides fingerlings and vegetable seeds to remote areas. The program has already benefited 15,000 individuals across 30 sites since 2024, with 16 additional sites and 800 more beneficiaries added in 2025.
“Project Lawa has proven to be a big help for upland communities who rely on fishponds for their fish supply. It gives them access to fresh fish and vegetables daily and even allows them to earn from selling the surplus,” Evora said.
Interested residents are encouraged to visit their district CAgro offices to avail of fingerlings and inquire about available programs.