STO. TOMAS, BATANGAS – The First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), through its water subsidiary FPIP Utilities Inc, has partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 4A (BFAR 4A) to release 20,000 tilapia fingerlings into the San Juan River Batangas.
The activity, anchored on the theme “Replenish and Restore: Fish Release Initiative,” aims to help improve the ecological condition of the river by boosting fish populations and supporting its natural balance.
The initiative also aligns with BFAR’s Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa Program (BASIL), which focuses on rehabilitating rivers, lakes, dams, and reservoirs across the country.
BFAR 4A Aquaculture Technologist John Dominick Mortel emphasized the importance of the effort, noting that each fingerling released symbolizes hope for healthier waterways, improved biodiversity, and better livelihood opportunities for surrounding communities.
For its part, FPIP said the activity forms part of its broader environmental commitment to rehabilitate and protect the San Juan River.
According to Nelson Lontok, the company has adopted and is managing a six-kilometer stretch of the river, conducting regular clean-up drives with partners and locators.
FPIP has also installed a trash trap in the Poblacion 1 section of the river to prevent waste from flowing downstream and affecting nearby communities.
Representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau CALABARZON, local environment offices, and barangays Sta. Anastacia and Ulango also joined the activity, highlighting a collective effort to protect and restore the San Juan River.
