LAKE MAINIT in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte

Beauty & Bounty of Mindanao!

VISIT MINDANAO'S LAKE MAINIT
DISCOVER TASTE OF 'PIJANGA'

Lake Mainit, one of Mindanao's major inland body of water at 17,430-hectares, teems with a rare species of fish, "Pijanga," which has provided livelihood for poor fishing families living along the 64-kilometer coastal line of the country's 4th largest lake.

"Pijanga," which belongs to the white goby family, is the dominant fish species in the lake which is found in the boundary of Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte.

Fishermen in the towns of Jabonga and Kitcharao in Agusan del Norte and Alegria and Mainit in Surigao del Norte have been fishing "Pijanga" from the lake, along with occassional catch of "Bingaw," a red fish which swims up to Lake Mainit from the sea, eel, carp and mudfish.

While concerns about the sustainability of "Pijanga" supply have been raised by several sectors because of overfishing, Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera and Jabonga town Mayor Napoleon Montero said the fish breeds whole year round.

Gov. Corvera said that for as long as illegal fishing practices are checked, like the use of fine mesh nets which catch the young "Pijanga" called "Saguyon," there will always be a fish to catch from the Lake.

Dried "Pijanga" has become a very popular product of the towns surrounding the Lake making it the iconic symbol of Lake Mainit.

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) visited Lake Mainit last week to look into the crafting of a comprehensive program which would ensure sustainability of "Pijanga" fishing.

The plan is to strengthen the alliance of the Lake-side towns so that environmental programs could be crafted to ensure a sustainable livelihood for families who depend on the lake.

Under the Mindanao Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MINFAD) Program of MinDA, the existing "Pijanga" hatchery will be improved to ensure the availability of fingerlings to be seeded in the lake every year.

The establishment of post-harvest facilities for the "Pijanga" will also be included in the proposed program for Lake Mainit to enable fishermen to get a higher value for their produce.

Mayor Montero said post-harvest facilities needed in Lake Mainit include ice-making equipment and mechanical drying facilities, along with packaging machines.

The sanitary processing and packaging of "Bulad Pijanga" will allow the iconic product from Lake Mainit to penetrate the big market and improve the economic conditions of people living around the lake.

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(This video material is a production of MinDA's Beauty & Bounty of Mindanao Media Team with translation by Iris Ferraris.)