ILOILO City – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 director Remia Aparri defended the agency’s decision to construct a P30-million feed mill plant within the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in Tigbauan, Iloilo, following a heated exchange with Sen. Cynthia Villar.
During a Senate hearing on Senate Bill No. 2417, which proposes the establishment of a similar feed mill plant in Barangay Bahit, Panay, Capiz, Villar questioned BFAR’s rationale for situating the feed mill at SEAFDEC.
The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, expressed frustration over the decision, emphasizing that feed mills are intended to benefit local fishermen and should be constructed in areas accessible to local government units (LGUs).
“Why build it inside SEAFDEC? If SEAFDEC wants a feed mill, they should fund it. Isn’t this supposed to be for our fishermen?” Villar said during the hearing on Monday, January 20.
Aparri explained that the decision to partner with SEAFDEC was made during the tenure of former Agriculture Secretary William Dar, citing the center’s expertise, technology, and existing facilities as key factors in ensuring the project’s success.
“They have the expertise and the technology, which increases the likelihood of success. The directive under the previous administration was to work on the commercialization and scaling up of feed production, which aligns with SEAFDEC’s capabilities,” Aparri stated in a media interview on January 21.
The feed mill plant at SEAFDEC, expected to become operational by the second quarter of 2025, aims to address the high cost and limited availability of aquaculture feeds in the region.
Aparri highlighted that most feed mill plants are concentrated in Luzon, creating logistical challenges for fishpond operators in Western Visayas. The plant is projected to produce 5,000 kilograms of feed daily and will supply identified fishpond operators across the region.
Despite Villar’s concerns, Aparri clarified that there are no immediate plans to turn over the SEAFDEC feed mill to LGU-Tigbauan due to existing agreements with SEAFDEC. However, the proposed feed mill in Barangay Bahit, Panay, Capiz, if approved, is likely to be turned over to the local government upon completion and operationalization.
“The goal remains to produce and increase feed production for the benefit of Region 6, particularly Iloilo and Capiz, which are major producers of milkfish,” Aparri added. “This initiative is also anchored on our objective to enhance food security by providing affordable feeds to fishpond operators.”
Villar reiterated the importance of ensuring that government-funded projects directly benefit local communities and urged BFAR to align future projects with this principle.
Meanwhile, BFAR assured the public that the SEAFDEC feed mill will still serve the region’s aquaculture sector effectively while maintaining collaboration with local stakeholders.
The Senate is expected to further deliberate on the proposed feed mill in Panay, Capiz, in upcoming sessions./PN