THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has delivered some 30,000 milkfish fingerlings (Garungan) to the Dumalinao Fisherfolk Federation (DFF) in the province of Zamboanga del Sur.

The milkfish fingerlings are for stocking in two units of Norwegian fish cages located at the mariculture area in Pantad village, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.

Marlon Dagandan, Fisheries Production and Support Services Division officer-in-charge, said the stocking activity is part of the implementation of BFAR regional office’s marine fish cage project.

The fish cage project was turned over to the municipal government of Dumalinao earlier this year for having been acclaimed as a Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) Regional Awardee for Current Year-2019.

Dagandan said the milkfish fingerlings were received by the municipal government of Dumalinao represented by Benjamin Balaobao, Jr., fisheries technician, with the project beneficiary headed by Ruby Sanday, DFF chairperson.

The milkfish fingerlings came from Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay province. Dagandan led the successful transport and stocking of the fingerlings along with the technical personnel of BFAR regional office.

The fingerling stocking was made possible through the assistance of technical staff from Ipil Brackishwater Demonstration Fish Farm and Bagalupa Freshwater Fish Hatchery.

Dagandan said the project aims to enhance and develop aquaculture production to ensure food security in the region particularly during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic under Republic Act No. 11494 otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act II (Bayanihan II).” (SunStar Zamboanga)