South Cotabato tilapia festival seeks bigger markets for fish farmers

KORONADAL CITY — South Cotabato is looking to expand markets for its tilapia industry as it launched its first five-day Tilapia Festival on Monday, Oct. 26, to help fish farmers reach more buyers and boost their livelihoods.

Running until Oct. 30, the festival features a product expo, aquaculture training, lake cleanups, bamboo planting, cooking contests, art workshops and cultural performances. It will culminate in Sugba-Sugba sa Dalan, a street-grilling event showcasing locally produced tilapia.

Provincial government data showed that at least 4,000 fish farmers in South Cotabato depend on the industry for their livelihoods.

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The province produced 545.22 metric tons of tilapia in the first quarter of 2026, up 22.7 percent from the same period last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

But farmers continue to face challenges, including unstable prices, high production costs and limited buyers, according to the Department of Agriculture in Region 12.

Provincial agriculturist Raul Teves said the festival complements government assistance to fish farmers, including fingerling distribution, technical support and training.

“The event goes beyond just a celebration, it serves as a strategic platform to empower our fish farmers in the province,” Teves said.

The festival opened at the EMR Center here with the Negosyo sa Tilapya Products Expo, where local entrepreneurs are showcasing products made from tilapia.

Other activities include training on good aquaculture practices and sustainable hatchery operations, a summit on developing value-added tilapia products, distribution of tilapia fingerlings and agricultural and fisheries inputs, and the Tilapyesta Forum and Art Workshop.

Beyond the festival, the province is pursuing a proposed P23.23-million tilapia enterprise approved under the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-Up, according to a provincial government report on Oct. 22.

The project, to be established in Barangays Malaya and Cinco in Banga, aims to link fingerling production with the consolidation and marketing of market-size tilapia.

Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said the festival recognizes the contribution of fish farmers to food production and local livelihoods.

“The first Tilapia Festival is our province’s way of recognizing our fish farmers, who continue to provide food and livelihoods for our province,” Tamayo said. INQ