On June 4, 2026, the Iloilo Provincial Agriculture Office through the Integrated Freshwater Aquaculture Park and Technology Center (IFAPTC), brought hands-on aquaculture training directly into the BJMP Iloilo District Jail – Male Dormitory in Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo — reaching 43 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) through a Hands-on Demonstration on the Induced Breeding of Catfish.
Under the PDL RESTART Program (Rehabilitation, Empowerment, Social Transformation, and Reintegration Track) and aligned with the Iloilo Provincial Government's vision of a "Fun, Foodie, Friendly Iloilo," this activity reflects our commitment to inclusive development — one that leaves no sector behind, including those within detention facilities.
Led by resource persons Rhyzz Jane B. Cabanilla, Pedro P. Blacer Jr., Guillermo Solomon, ART (Agri-Aqua Research and Technology) Center Chief Victor Bedia, and the IFAPTC support team, participants learned the scientific and technical steps of catfish spawning and induced breeding. This training equips them with practical, livelihood-ready skills for their eventual reintegration into the community.
It also serves as vital groundwork for the Iloilo Provincial Government's upcoming project to establish a fish hatchery inside the BJMP facility. Also present in the activity is Asst. Warden JINSP Emellete Naaman representing the BJMP Pototan.
The road to reintegration is paved with opportunity. Through programs like this, PAGRO continues to invest not just in agriculture — but in people, in second chances, and in the kind of sustainable livelihoods that uplift entire families and communities.