“Learn from a river; obstacles may force to change its course, but never its destination.” – Matshona Dhliwago
Not even the rain stopped MORE Power and the City Agriculture Office from releasing this weekend 1,500 fish fingerlings in the historic Iloilo River.
Part of the Distribution Utility’s sustainable environmental advocacies, the initiative strengthens its community engagement and long-term commitment to the Ilonggos.
The fingerlings, locally known as Bulgan or most commonly called Sea Bass, are of high-value.
A group of Ilonggo long-line fishing hobbyists, who aside from enjoying this pastime and providing food to their families, praised the initiative. “Good, eh, maayo na kay kami man na maka benefit kay kami gapamunit,” enthused Carmelo Clemente. “Kung magdagku ma guwa man na gyapun sa baybay, ang diri matiner, oportunidad na ina namon kung pwede makuha na.”
Used to be toxic and stinking, Iloilo River is now clean and green. “This is thanks to years of reform and strict implementation of the environmental laws that yielded a positive outcome which today’s generation start to reap,” said Bernard Rendaje, Fisheries Sector, City Agricultural Office (CAO). According to him, CAO “need (s) a sustainable program for the river and they cannot achieve that without the commitment of the private sector.”
He added, “Ining gina buya naton para man sa sustainability kag biodiversity sang Iloilo River. Para man sa porgrama ni Mayor Jerry P. Treñas 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.”
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 was also made possible in partnership with RMN Iloilo.