In a move to strengthen its livelihood and aquaculture programs, the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) – Central Sub Colony successfully conducted the hauling and stocking of tilapia fry on April 22, 2025, sourced from Barangay Taritien, Narra, Palawan.
Under the facility’s Work and Livelihood Program, a total of 50,000 tilapia fry and fingerlings were delivered and distributed as part of the ongoing freshwater tilapia farming project. This effort is anchored on a Memorandum of Agreement supporting IPPF’s aquaculture production and is aimed at enhancing food sustainability and providing livelihood opportunities within the facility.
Technical experts from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) assisted in the activity, ensuring proper handling and stocking of the aquatic stock. Their expertise contributed to the smooth and successful transfer of approximately 5,000 to 7,500 fingerlings directly into Pond 1 and Pond 3. Meanwhile, the remaining fry were stocked in the nursery pond where they will continue to grow until they are ready to be transferred to Pond 2 and Pond 4 for further rearing.
BuCor Director General, General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., AFP (Ret.), CESE, CCLH, through IPPF Superintendent C/Supt. Gary A. Garcia, RCrim, MSCA, expressed optimism about the expanding aquaculture initiatives at IPPF. He emphasized that projects like these not only support the food supply of the prison community but also provide valuable livelihood skills to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), contributing to their rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society.
The tilapia farming project marks another step forward in IPPF’s commitment to promoting self-sufficiency, sustainability, and skills development within its institution.
