The new feed mill features a complete production system—from grinding raw materials to extrusion, drying, and packaging—as attendees at the opening were able to see for themselves.
Photo: PRINCE / DA-BFAR Region 6 Facebook page.
A new feed mill was inaugurated last week in Iloilo, in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. According to information provided by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)—which specializes in disseminating information about government programs—this new facility will benefit more than 6,000 fish farmers each year, while addressing one of the critical obstacles to the growth of the aquaculture sector in the region.
Established within the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) complex in Tigbauan, a municipality in the province of Iloilo, the project inaugurated last week, began thirteen years ago, in 2023, with the signing of an agreement between the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and SEAFDEC/AQD.
Designed through consultations with stakeholders, including local governments, private groups and academic institutions, who identified feed affordability as a critical bottleneck, it aims to complement the current supply system and address shortcomings, especially at times when feed prices are high, and supply is limited.
The new feed mill, which integrates a complete production system — from grinding raw materials to extrusion, drying and packaging — with the aim of manufacturing consistent, nutrient-rich and longer-lasting feed, is designed to produce 5 metric tons of aquaculture feed per day, which translates to approximately 1,560 metric tons annually.
However, according to information from the Philippine News Agency (PNA)—the Philippine government's official newswire service—during the inauguration, BFAR Western Visayas Regional Director Remia Aparri said that production capacity could reach up to 8 metric tons.
"More importantly, this facility is expected to directly benefit at least 6,240 fisherfolk annually, which is equivalent to approximately 47 per cent of the 13,202 fisherfolk engaged in aquaculture out of the 192,679 registered fisherfolk in the entire region," Aparri commented, adding that this clearly demonstrates the scale and significance of this intervention in advancing aquaculture productivity in Western Visayas.
Regional fisheries officials told PIA that those more than 6,000 fish farmers expected to benefit from the project represent almost half of the sector's workforce in this region of the Philippines.
View of the interior of the new feed mill for aquafeed production inaugurated in Iloilo, Western Visayas region, Philippines.
Photo: DA-BFAR Region 6 Facebook page.
PIA's release also highlighted that the plant's output could support fish farms covering approximately 160 hectares, helping to address one of the industry's most persistent challenges: high feed costs, which can account for up to 70% of the total cost of production, limiting growth among fish farmers.
Speaking to PNA, DA-BFAR Assistant Director for Administrative Services Zaldy Perez insisted on that idea, claiming that the project directly responds to the high and unstable cost of feeds, which he described as one of the most pressing constraints in aquaculture.
"Aquaculture now accounts for more than half of the country's overall fishery production. Despite this, our fish farmers continue to suffer, as feed alone can account for 60 to 70 per cent of production costs. This fact diminishes production and profitability, ultimately affecting our ability to assure food security and improve the lives of our fisherfolk," he said.
"From a national perspective, this initiative aligns squarely with our mandate to achieve food security, increase productivity, and improve incomes in the fisheries sector," Perez added.
Exterior view of the new feed mill, established within the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department complex in Tigbauan, Iloilo province, Western Visayas region, Philippines.
Photo: DA-BFAR Region 6 Facebook page.
Designed to support the development of cost-effective feeds for commercially important fish species, such as bangus (milkfish), beyond its function as a feed production center, the facility will also serve as a center for innovation, training and technology transfer, where farmers and stakeholders can learn feed formulation techniques and sustainable aquaculture practices.
At a pivotal time for aquaculture in the Philippines, where the DA-BFAR recently outlined its 2026 plans, which include accelerating aquaculture development and enhancing enforcement and research capabilities, the new Iloilo facility will serve a wide range of stakeholders, from small-scale aquaculture farmers to commercial producers, not only within Western Visayas but also in neighbouring regions.
This was highlighted by the Chief of SEAFDEC/AQD, Dan Baliao, who said that the new feed mill stands as another way for the agency to bridge the gap between research and development and practical application, as well as being a sign of their unwavering commitment to its stakeholders.
"As we flip the switch today and hear the roars of the machinery reverberate around the facility, we do so with the hope that with each pellet produced contributes towards food security and sustainable aquaculture growth," Baliao stated.
