Provincial agriculture optimistic over completion of fishfarm drainage construction in 60 days

PROPOSED: Fish farm drainage construction in Quirino to start soon

By Thelma C. Bicarme

Friday 17th of August 2012

CABARROGUIS, Quirino, Aug 17 (PIA) -- The construction of a center canal that will serve as drainage for Quirino freshwater fish farm and nursery at Barangay San Isidro here will start soon.

Florence Mangoba of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAg) said the P300,000 fund from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for the project was already handed to the provincial government.

However, the start of construction has been postponed due to the death of its project engineer but it will resume as soon as the provincial engineering office assigns a new engineer to continue the project.

“Hopefully, the construction will be completed in 60 days as scheduled to be ready for the onset of rainy season,” Mangoba said.

The provincial government shelled out P150,000 for the excavation, plastering, embankment and pipe works, steel platform, engineering, and other administrative costs for the project.

If completed, the Quirino fish farmers will be able to increase their production every harvest season, thereby solving the fish deficiency problem in the province. Based on OPAg records, the province has only 10 percent sufficiency level.

The fish hatchery project will also boost tilapia production in the province and will eventually contribute to the food sufficiency program of the government. (TCB-PIA 2, Quirino)