Press Release
Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
April 11, 2013

1st Quarterly Meeting on Organic Aquaculture held in Baguio City

To discuss significant matters concerning  Organic Aquaculture (OA), OA regional focal persons with Regional Fisheries Technology Centers’ (RFTCs) Directors from all over the country and Chiefs from the National Technology Centers (NTCs) including National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (NFFTC), National Inland Fisheries Technology Center (NIFTC), National Brackishwater Aquaculture Technology Research Center (NBATRC), and National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) gathered in Baguio City last April 1 to 6, 2013 in a 1st quarterly meeting organized by Organic Aquaculture Unit of theInland Fisheries Aquaculture Division (IFAD).

BFAR-CAR Assistant Regional Director, Lois June Fermin uttered her full support to the program during her welcome remarks. Each of the regional focal persons, RFTC Directors as well as NTC Chiefs had their presentation which aimed to provide a clear view of the status and updates of OA programs and activities in their respective regions as well as clarify specific issues and concerns to further strengthen, harmonize, and effectively implement the OA program in the country.

Dr. Jose Balaoing, member of the National Organic Aquaculture Board (NOAB) and professor in the Benguet State University (BSU), shared a motivational message to the participants for them to continue to work hard to attain the goals of OA through sharing some success stories in organic agriculture. Furthermore, he highly recommended the use of Azolla as organic feeds for aquaculture.
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The participants commended the assurance of Dr. Balaoing that NOAB will provide more support for aquaculture and livestock.

A lakbay-aral was also conducted to inspire and provide the participants with a wider perspective in organic farming. The places which were visited include Garden of Life Organic Farm owned by Mr. Felix Tan as well as the Benguet State University Organic Farm headed by Dr. Jose Balaoing.

To further strengthen the implementation of organic aquaculture by enhancing each of the OA regional focal persons’ expertise, a meeting regarding the protocol for organic farming of various species such as tilapia, hito, milkfish, and shrimp is scheduled this May, 2013 where experts from the NTCs will serve as resource speakers.

Dr. Jose Balaoing (left) as he explains about vermiculture during the lakbay-aral in Benguet State University (BSU).	During the lakbay-aral in Tam-awan, Baguio City - Mr. Felix Tan (left), the owner of Garden of Life Organic Farm, as he shows the compost used as fertilizer in organic farming.

The participants in the 1st Quarterly Meeting of Organic Aquaculture Regional Focal Persons with RFTC Directors and National Technology Center Chiefs.