Alsons Aquaculture Corp. (AAC) of the Alcantara group has announced that it is investing PHP200 million (USD 3.7 million) to expand its inland-based fishery project in Sarangani. According to (philstar.com), a report submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) said that AAC is proposing to expand its aquaculture project in Alabel, Sarangani. AAC has estimated the project cost to reach PHP 200 million over a three-year period.
The expansion project will cover 193.68ha adjacent and add another 5,000 tonnes of annual production to cater to the growing market demand. AAC is seeking an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the expansion project that will involve the construction and management of new aquaculture facilities.
The project will use the area’s natural resources to encourage sustainable aquaculture in the brackish water Buayan River and Sarangani Bay. These brackish water resources, can host many aquaculture species such as milkfish, tilapia, and shrimp. Using this sort of water in aquaculture can also reduce the project’s environmental effect by reducing the amount of freshwater required for operation, AAC said. With food security a major concern today, the company said its proposed expansion would provide additional food source both internationally and locally.
“This other facility will accommodate additional production of tilapia and prime bangus for the municipality of Alabel, thus, gradually contributing to the increased level of food security in the LGU (local government unit),†AAC said.
AAC will continuously increase the economic status of the locality by exporting to global markets such as the US, Canada, Guam, Australia, China and the Middle East. In its existing 30ha hatchery- farm, AAC keeps 12,000 spawners of various ages and grows and processes over 4,000 tonnes of aquaculture products in inland ponds in a year. The company operates two processing plants in Mindanao and one in the Visayas,
Alsons Aquaculture Corporation is the largest breeder, processor and exporter of premium branded bangus (milkfish) products under the Sarangani Bay trademark. Being the country’s largest exporter of bangus and other seafood, the increased production capacity will help cope with the market demand.
Nearly 7,000 tonnes of fish are farmed in the pristine waters of Southern Mindanao – across 50,000 cubic meters of sea cages and 350ha of brackish water ponds. Beginning with its entry into the US market in 1997, Sarangani Bay now exports more than half of its processed harvest to Filipino communities in the US, US Armed Forces Commissaries (worldwide), Canada, Middle East, Europe, Australia, Guam, Malaysia and Japan. Philippines.
