Launching of BASIL program

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel Pinol announces the BASIL project from 2017-2022 to replenish the country’s inland waters with both indigenous and commercially valuable non-invasive fish species and freshwater aquatic resources during the launching of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) “BASIL: Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa” program in Los Banos, Laguna on Monday (June 20, 2017). Pinol later led the initial dispersal of 5 million fingerlings of various fish species in Laguna de Bay. With Secretary Piñol (from left) are DA Undersecretaries Bernadette Romulo-Puyat; Evelyn Laviña; and Segfredo Serrano. (PNA photos by Ben Briones)