Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. has ordered provincial guards assigned at the Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail (IPIJ) in Brgy. Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo to secure all the properties owned by the Iloilo Provincial Government against intruders.

This order came after several kilos of tilapia breeders for the fingerling production program of the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) were stolen by two persons from the fishpond situated at the IPIJ compound last April 21.

Provincial Agriculturist head Ildelfonso Toledo said the two suspects were already identified by the Pototan PNP as Carmelo de Rosas, of Brgy. Lacturan, Dumangas and Bryan Villarosa of Brgy. Igporog, San Enrique, both from Iloilo.

Both suspects are currently detained at the Pototan Police Station.

He said the two suspects were arrested 10 days after the incident through the help of several informants.

"The two suspects admitted that they are the ones who stole around 10 kilos of tilapia and sold them to several residents of Brgy. Dawis in New Lucena. This will not stop us from filing a case of theft against them," said Toledo.

DAMAGED

Toledo said the incident caused damage to their "Tilapia production and dispersal project".

The PAO is maintaining 20 fishponds at the IPIJ compound, with four ponds occupied by 120 tilapia breeders. He stressed that each tilapia breeder can produce from 100 to 500 fingerlings.

Toledo added 167 farmers had already benefited from the program especially in the towns of Tubungan, Bingawan and Lambunao and the component city of Passi.

Other freshwater aquaculture breeders are catfish and pangasius.

The program is part of the Agri-Aqua Research and Technology Center (ART) of the PAO under the provincial government which started four years ago.*