15 March 2021
Taguig City - TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña led the inauguration rites of the first TESDA -NCR Urban Aqua Farm on March 15, 2021 at the TESDA Compound in Taguig City. He was joined by Deputy Director General for TESD Operations Lina Sarmiento and other TESDA officials.
The Urban Aqua Farm was conceptualized through the TESDA-MuntiParLasTaPat (Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Taguig and Pateros) District Office in line with Lapeña’s directive to showcase greening of technical-vocational education and training.
“This project signifies the importance of farming in our urban areas, particularly to our marginalized sectors who can make farming as a source of their livelihood even if they are living in the city, without going to the remote farming areas. For this Urban Aqua model Farm, we only need an area of more than 70 square meters to establish a fish farm that can help feed a family. This program is definitely aligned with TESDA’s thrust of global competitiveness, social equity and poverty reduction for the Filipinos” says Lapeña.
The Urban Aqua Farm was established under the concept of aquaculture—or the breeding, nurturing and harvesting of fish and other aquatic organisms. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and/or saltwater populations under controlled conditions and can be compared with commercial fishing or harvesting of fish in open waters like seas and lakes.
The said Aqua Farm is built with one main fountain responsible for the water circulation and other surrounding “mini-fountains” to regulate the temperature, humidity and moisture of the water to ensure the optimal condition of the fish. The perimeter of the Aqua Farm is around 78 square meters (m2) while the pool covers 51 square meters, with a depth of around one meter.
According to TESDA-MuntiParLasTaPat District Director Atty. Marichelle De Guzman, the Urban Aqua Farm will cultivate different species of tilapia which are relatively easier to harvest and with good growth rate. Water cabbage, lotus and water grass (isay) will be grown inside the pool to help oxygenate the pond to keep the fish healthy.
Various plant crops have been planted around the farm such as Chinese malunggay, eggplant, okra, tomatoes, bell pepper, chili (siling labuyo, siling panigang and siling demonyo), lemon, calamansi and passion fruit. Ornamental plants will also be grown such as Araucaria, Tabebuia, Duranta, Santan, Sampaguita and Yellow Bell.
The TESDA chief also announced that the MuntiParLasTaPat District Training and Assessment Center (MDTAC) will soon register Urban Aqua Farming under the No Training Regulation (NTR) as additional qualification on its course offerings. ###
(From left to right) TESDA-MuntiParLasTaPat District Director Marichelle De Guzman, TESDA Deputy Director for TESD Operations Lina Sarmiento, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña, and TESDA-NCR Regional Director Florencio Sunico, Jr. leading the ribbon cutting ceremony of TESDA-NCR Urban Aqua Farm.
(From left to right) TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña, TESDA Deputy Director for TESD Operations Lina Sarmiento, TESDA-NCR Regional Director Florencio Sunico, Jr., and TESDA-MuntiParLasTaPat District Director Marichelle De Guzman catching Tilapia in TESDA-NCR Urban Aqua Farm mini pond.
The TESDA-NCR Urban Aqua Farm background.
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