To further establish food security, the City Agriculturist Office’s Fishery Resources Management and Services Division is pushing for the passage of a local ordinance declaring Lasang and Matina Aplaya as mariculture parks.
Aimee C. Evora, acting head of CAgro’s Fishery Resources Management and Services Division, said during the I-Speak Media forum that they aim to add more controlled environments for fish production.
“Ang among opisina gina-promote na gyud ang atong aquaculture nga program kay ang aquaculture mas controlled nato, maka-hatag man ta’g inputs para ma-sustain nato ang food production so kana among ginasulong run nga ma establish, ang atong mariculture park para makatabang siya sa food sufficiency diri sa Davao (Our office is actively promoting our aquaculture program because aquaculture is more controlled. We can provide the necessary inputs to sustain food production. That’s why we are pushing for the establishment of our mariculture parks, so it can help with food sufficiency here in Davao.),” she said.
She said that while the city has its own fish produce, it is still dependent on nearby municipalities for sufficient supply.
Evora added that with the declaration of Lasang and Matina Aplaya-Punta Dumalag areas as mariculture parks, the city can implement more regulations and set aside funding to support aquaculture and mariculture.
“Matina Aplaya was not actually declared as Mariculture Park but only as mariculture livelihood project. If will be declared as mariculture park clear regulations and prohibitions will be established and the City Government can allocate funding for our fisheries and operators soon,” she said.
“The Punta Dumalag Mariculture livelihood project, from the period of January to June 2025, has produced 390 tons of fish,” Evora said, adding that more produce can be expected once Lasang will also be declared as a Mariculture Park.
The National Mariculture Center also found Lasang as suitable for a mariculture project given its water current and water quality.
Proposed in Lasang are the production of high value species such as lapu-lapu (grouper) and talakitok (trevally). Meanwhile, Matina Aplaya has bangus (milkfish), danggit (rabbitfish), and kitang (rabbitfish).
“Although naa na’y fisherfolk association diha sa Lasang na naa na’y project kaso ilaha kay fishpen lang to nga naa gyud to’y gibuhi nila nga talakitok, kung ma-establish ang mariculture park mas mapadako nato to ilahang project (Although there’s already a fisherfolk association there with an existing project, theirs was just a fishpen where they raise talakitok (trevally). If the mariculture park gets established, it will help expand and scale up the project),” she said.
Evora said that the proposed ordinance was already approved under the first reading by the 21st Sangguniang Panlungsod and they are only awaiting invitation for the committee hearings. CIO
