To encourage prospective aquapreneurs to explore aquaponics, an innovative system that enables the simultaneous cultivation of fish and plants even in limited spaces, the training “FishKwela: Freshwater Aquaculture in Aquaponics” was conducted on April 23–24, 2026, in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

The activity gathered 32 participants from Tarlac, Bulacan, Zambales, and Batangas. It was organized by the Department of Agriculture–National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) in collaboration with the DA–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources National Capital Region (BFAR NCR), Animal Kingdom Foundation, and Villar Foundation Farm School.

Serving as resource speakers on aquaponics were Dr. Joseph Christopher Rayos, Gilda Joannah Calderon, and Jayson Candones from NFRDI’s Aquaculture Research and Development Division (ARDD). Dr. Rayos opened the sessions with an overview of aquaponics technology, while Calderon and Candones delivered lectures on aquaculture fundamentals, focusing on the biology, culture requirements, and management practices for tilapia and catfish.

Complementing these sessions, Errol Tiburcio from BFAR-NCR, presented a cost-and-return analysis to guide participants in assessing the system’s economic viability. To reinforce learning, participants also engaged in hands-on activities, including the assembly of aquaponics system components.

Additional topics included fish welfare, presented by Diana Reyes of the Animal Kingdom Foundation, and a seminar on Gender and Development facilitated by Norvida Gatdula of NFRDI.

One of the participants, Emma Tolentino, expressed appreciation for the training and emphasized its relevance in urban settings. “Maganda po ito aquaponics para sa atin dahil dito sa lungsod, limited ang space, limited ang area. Wala silang mga lupa na puwedeng taniman, pero may kasagutan para doon. At ang sagot po ay nandito sa ating mga expert na nagbabahagi ng kanilang mga kaalaman,” she said.

FishKwela, derived from the words “fisheries” and “eskwela” (school), serves as the official branding for all training initiatives of NFRDI for its external stakeholders. ### (Joey Caser)