GITAGUM, Misamis Oriental — Reaping the fruits of their collective labor and determination, the Matangad Fishermen’s Cooperative (MaFCo) harvested a total of 4,201 kilograms of Bangus (milkfish) from its 10-meter diameter High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) cage on January 7, 2026, at Barangay Matangad, this municipality.

The harvest marked the first-ever production output of MaFCo’s Bangus-in-Cage project under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase II of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Region 10 (BFAR-10), highlighting the cooperative’s successful transition from traditional capture fishing to becoming active managers of a profitable aquaculture enterprise.

During the four-month culture period, the group achieved a 90.5 percent survival rate, producing Bangus with an average body weight (ABW) of 421 grams. The harvest was sold to a major buyer from Iligan City at an average farmgate price of Php 140 per kilogram, generating an estimated gross income of Php 588,000.

MaFCo President Mr. Paul John C. Caballa expressed his gratitude for the continued support of the BFAR-10 SAAD Program and shared his optimism for the cooperative’s future.

“Kini nga kalampusan nagpakita nga kaya sa among kooperatiba ang ingon ani nga klase sa pangisda (Bangus farming). Tumong namo karon nga mapadayon ang proyekto aron masiguro ang kaayohan sa among mga miyembro ug ang kalig-on sa among kooperatiba,” Caballa said.

[This achievement demonstrates that our cooperative is capable of adopting this type of fishing livelihood, particularly Bangus farming. Our current goal is to sustain the project to ensure the welfare of our members and the long-term stability of the cooperative.]

He further stated that the cooperative intends to allocate a portion of its earnings to sustain operations and finance the succeeding production cycle.

The activity concluded with a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) led by Aquaculturist Il Che A. Sy, which aimed to address project-related issues and concerns and to map out future plans for the cooperative.

MaFCo’s achievement underscores the viability of cage aquaculture as a sustainable livelihood alternative for small-scale fisherfolk, contributing to improved income stability, enhanced food security, and sustainable fisheries development in Misamis Oriental.

Present during the activity were BFAR-10 SAAD Alternate Focal Person Vianney Anthony A. Gapuz; SAAD Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO)–Misamis Oriental Alternate Focal Person Ness D. Ababa; and personnel from the Local Government Unit of Gitagum.