Despite the rain over the weekend, MORE Power and the City Agriculture office did not waste a day by releasing 1,500 fish fingerlings in the historic Iloilo River.
This is in part of the DU’s sustainable environmental advocacies it strengthens its community engagement and long-term commitment to the Ilonggos.
The fingerlings are of high-value which is locally known as Bulgan or most commonly called Sea Bass.
This earned praises from a group of Ilonggos who are into long-line fishing as their hobby. Most often, some enjoy this past-time as they could easily provide for food to their families when they go home.
“Good eh maayo na kay kami man na maka benefit kay kami gapamunit. Kung magdagku ma guwa man na gyapun sa baybay, ang diri matiner, oportunidad na ina namon kung pwede makuha na,” pahayag ni Carmelo Clemente.
Iloilo River used to be this dirty, toxic and foul-smelling river. Years of reform and strict implementation of the environmental laws yielded a positive outcome which today’s generation start to reap.
According to the City Agriculture Office, they need a sustainable program for the river and they cannot achieve that without the commitment of the private sector.
“Ining gina buya naton para man sa sustainability kag biodiversity sang Iloilo River. Para man sa porgrama ni Mayor Trenas kag mabalik naton ang sigla sang Iloilo River. Importante gid na katama sa taga syudad especially sa nagapangabuhi diri sa suba. Nga sige ila nga panguhaon sa mga isda nga malahalon man na siya kag nami nga ma ano sa residente natun sa Syudad,” says Bernard Rendaje, Fisheries Sector, City Agriculture Office.
The City Agriculture Office appeals to the public that only mature fish should be caught and when it is spawning, make sure to release them so they could continue reproduce and keep the river alive.
This project is also in partnership with RMN Iloilo.