The Cebu Provincial Government will distribute 30 fish cage livelihood packages to selected fisherfolk associations across the province, as part of a larger plan to roll out 130 cages to improve food security. The initiative, led by the Cebu Provincial Agriculture Office, aims to provide sustainable livelihoods and additional income while addressing a significant fish supply shortage.
Fish supply gap and food security concerns
Provincial Agriculture Office head Roldan Saragena reported that Cebu’s annual fish production is approximately 30,000 metric tons, failing to meet the province’s 101,000 metric ton demand. This leaves a gap of about 70,000 metric tons, which is currently filled by imports from neighboring provinces. Governor Pamela Baricuatro has emphasized the urgency of improving food security, noting that Cebu relies on external sources for roughly 70 percent of its food supply.
The fish cage project is part of the Provincial Agriculture Office’s three-year strategic plan following Baricuatro’s election. It operates under the Food Always in the Home program, designed to strengthen local food sufficiency.
Livelihood package components and distribution
Each package, valued at P400,000, includes a five-by-five-meter heavy-duty fish cage made of high-density polyethylene, 4,000 bangus fingerlings, fish feeds, training, an accounting system, technical monitoring, and a farm-to-market support pipeline. Recipient fisherfolk associations underwent an initial assessment to determine their capacity to implement and sustain the project.
Technical experts from the Provincial Agriculture Office and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will evaluate proposed coastal sites to ensure they meet required standards for salinity, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature. Recipients were also endorsed by their respective municipal or city agriculturists based on active participation and performance within their communities.
First distribution on July 3 in Oslob
The first batch of beneficiary local government units will receive the fishery materials on July 3, 2026, in Oslob. Among the recipients is the Daanlungsod Small Fishermen Association, where Governor Baricuatro will lead the ceremonial release of bangus fingerlings. The Provincial Government plans to distribute a total of 130 fish cages to strengthen fisherfolk livelihoods throughout the province.
According to Saragena, the initiative comes amid Central Visayas’ highest inflation rate in 10 months, further highlighting the need for local food production. The program aims to reduce dependence on external food sources and provide a steady income for fisherfolk.
