BFAR Secures Rights to Longtime Fisheries Site in Alaminos City

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 1 (BFAR-1) has secured rights to the more than two-hectare reclaimed property in this city that it has occupied for decades as a regional fisheries station and aquaculture facility. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed on July 16, 2026 by BFAR-1 Regional Director Remely Lachica and Alaminos City Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste, formally recognizing the agency’s continued occupancy of the property. Under the agreement, BFAR-1 is granted the right to use the site for fisheries-related programs and services, including fish production and research, hatchery and broodstock development, fisheries training and extension services, and administrative and operational support facilities. READ: BFAR opens P5-M seaweed laboratory in Pangasinan Lachica said the agreement also provides the agency with legal assurance over the property after years of operating without formal documentation. Before the agreement, Lachica said BFAR “was like an illegal settler because we had no document. The MOA ensures the legality of our occupancy and use of the property. Now, we can plan future fisheries projects without apprehension.” READ: BFAR provides bangus fry, fishing gear to Pangasinan fish farmers Celeste said the city government fully supports BFAR’s continued presence in Alaminos, citing the agency’s vital role in strengthening the country’s food security. The mayor said BFAR is always welcome in Alaminos City because of the important work it does in the fisheries sector and in supporting national food security. The agreement also provides that BFAR-1 will continue to enjoy peaceful, uninterrupted, and exclusive possession of the property, while the city government commits not to undertake any action or enter into any agreement that would prejudice or diminish the agency’s rights under the MOA. The exact boundaries of the property occupied by BFAR-1 will be established through a technical survey to facilitate future land titling. /mcm