DAMULOG, Bukidnon —In strengthening local food production and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities in the province, the Sampagar Tilapia Growers Association (SaTiGA) successfully harvested a total of 4,619 kg of Tilapia on January 27, 2026, this town.

With 20 active members, the group intermittently harvested their tilapia starting in December 2025 until early this year, with most of the fish averaging a body weight of 221 g. The harvest is estimated to generate an income of Php 702,088, based on market prices ranging from Php 150 to Php 170 per kilogram.

Operations started in July 2025, when the association received 30,000 pcs of tilapia fingerlings, along with 272 sacks of commercial fish feeds, estimated for one cropping cycle, and other agricultural inputs for pond preparation. These inputs were equally distributed among the members, who stocked the tilapia fingerlings in their 500-square-meter fishponds and cultured them for four to five months, following standard tilapia farming procedures under the guidance of SAAD technical staff to ensure optimal growth and yield.

Meanwhile, Ernesto Jumawid, SaTiGA President, expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource – Region 10 (BFAR-10) and how it has improved the livelihoods of families and strengthened aquaculture practices in their community.

“Ang SAAD program usa ka tulay para namong mga tilapia farmers aron mas mapalig-on ug mapalambo ang among panginabuhian, ilabi na sa fisheries sector dinhi sa probinsya,” Jumawid said.

[The SAAD Program serves as a bridge for us tilapia farmers, enabling us to strengthen and further develop our livelihoods, especially in the fisheries sector here in the province.]

The success of SaTiGA’s harvest highlights the growing potential of the tilapia industry in Bukidnon, demonstrating that with proper support, technical guidance, and access to quality inputs, freshwater fish farming can become a sustainable and profitable livelihood for small-scale fish farmers.

Funded under the Tilapia Culture in Ponds (TCiP) project of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase II, CY 2025, the initiative aims to transition beneficiaries from subsistence fishing to sustainable, Community-Based Enterprises (CBEs).