LIVELIHOOD AID. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Luzon (BFAR 3) distributes some 100,000 tilapia fingerlings to eight fishpond operators in Mabalacat City, Pampanga in this undated photo. BFAR-3 Director Wilfredo Cruz said on Tuesday (Aug. 9, 2022) the move is part of the government's continuing effort to provide sustainable livelihood to the fisherfolk and ensure food security. (Photo courtesy of BFAR-Central Luzon) MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Luzon (BFAR-3) has distributed some 100,000 tilapia fingerlings for the sustainable livelihood of fishpond operators in this province. BFAR-3 Director Wilfredo Cruz said on Tuesday the move is part of the national government's program to ensure food security and boost the harvest and income of the local fisherfolk. Recipients of the tilapia fingerlings were eight fish pond operators here. The fingerlings were sourced from BFAR-3's Technology Outreach Station for Freshwater Species (TOSFW) in Looc, Zambales. "Ang isinagawang pamamahagi ng semilya ng tilapia ay kabilang sa mga programa ng BFAR-3 upang tiyaking suportado ang mga Cabalen na nag-aalaga ng isda sa mga fishpond lalo na't kabilang sa mga pangunahing industriyang nagpapagalaw sa ekonomiya ng Pampanga ang pangisdaan (The distribution of tilapia fingerlings is one of the programs of BFAR-3 to ensure support to the residents who are raising tilapia in fishpond, especially that aquaculture is one of the major industries that contribute to the economy of Pampanga)," Cruz said in a social media post. Raymundo Suarez, a 66-year-old fishpond operator in Barangay Duquit who received 15,000 tilapia fingerlings, thanked the BFAR for the support that could help uplift their lives. Meanwhile, the BFAR-3 released thousands of larvae of blue swimming crabs along Manila Bay in Barangay Camachile, Orion, Bataan last Friday. Cruz said the crabs came from the BFAR-3's Technology Outreach Station for Marine Water. "This would give an additional source of livelihood to the fisherfolk in Orion," he said. (PNA) }