Ormoc: The city government of Ormoc is eyeing a 38-metric ton milkfish harvest in the second half of 2026 with the operation of the newly launched mariculture park. The newly launched 24.5-hectare facility, fully covered by an Environment Compliance Certificate, is expected to significantly boost the production of milkfish and other high-value species.

According to Philippines News Agency, this project is designed to boost milkfish and high-value species production, benefiting eight fisherfolk associations and more than 400 coastal families, the city government said in a statement Tuesday. After the Dec. 5, 2025 launch in Barangay San Juan in Ormoc, beneficiaries are expected to begin operations immediately, with the first harvest projected by the second semester of 2026, it added.

The projected yield, according to the local government, could rise further as operations scale and operators explore polyculture options such as raising siganids alongside milkfish. The park features dedicated zones for big players, small to medium operators, fisherfolk, research and development, and conditioning, with the Fisherfolk Zone reserved solely for local fishers.

The Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) invested PHP12 million under Aquaculture and Mariculture Expansion and Invigoration Project and the BFAR Regular Fund - Cages for Livelihood Program. The support includes four circular high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cages, four modular HDPE cages, feeds and harvest supplies.

The city government supplemented these interventions with 20 bamboo cages to assist individual fisherfolk.