BFAR3 opens fisheries laboratory in Pampanga

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Central Luzon (BFAR 3) has inaugurated the upgraded Regional Fisheries Laboratory 3 (RFL3) at Barangay Maimpis in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga on 25 September 2026.

The said opening marked an important milestone in strengthening fisheries laboratory and technical services.

The improvement of the facility forms part of the continuing investments under the Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project, a Department of Agriculture-BFAR initiative supported by the World Bank that seeks to improve fisheries resource management, strengthen fisheries and aquaculture development, and build resilience among coastal communities.

The activity was preceded by the blessing of newly acquired BFAR vehicles, which will provide additional operational support for field activities, monitoring, technical services, and program implementation across Central Luzon.

The milestone was likewise supported by key BFAR officials from different offices and regions, including BFAR National Director Elizer Salilig, OIC Regional Director of BFAR-CAR and Bureau Spokesperson Nazario Briguera, BFAR NCR Regional Director Noemi Lanzuela, BFAR Region 1 Regional Director Remely Lachica, and National Fisheries Laboratory Division (NFLD) Chief Sonia Somga, DVM.

Their presence and support reflected the Bureau’s collective commitment to strengthening regional laboratory capabilities, enhancing technical services, and advancing science-based approaches to fisheries and aquatic resource management.

In his message National Director Elizer Salilig emphasized that the RFL3 milestone should be viewed within the broader continuing efforts of the Bureau to strengthen its programs, systems, personnel and operational capacity in fulfillment of its mandate.

"This milestone is part of the bigger work that the Bureau continues to undertake. As we strengthen our programs, our people, our facilities and our systems, we are also strengthening our ability to deliver the services expected of us," Salilig stated.

BFAR 3 Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz underscored the significance of the investment in strengthening the Bureau’s capacity to provide technical and scientific support to fisheries stakeholders.

"This is more than an improvement of a facility. It strengthens our capacity to generate reliable scientific information and will help our personnel respond more effectively to the needs and challenges of the fisheries sector," Cruz said.

The upgraded RFL3 houses specialized laboratory services covering Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Monitoring, Molecular Diagnostics, Water Quality, and Residue Analysis.

These laboratory services support BFAR programs on aquatic animal health, fisheries and environmental monitoring, marine biotoxin surveillance, food safety, and the generation of scientific information for fisheries management.

The RFL3’s capabilities contribute to the Bureau’s broader mandate by providing laboratory-based information that can support appropriate technical interventions, regulatory functions, disease surveillance, food safety programs, and science-based management decisions.

Its HAB and marine biotoxin monitoring functions likewise contribute to the detection and monitoring of hazards that may affect aquatic resources and public health, supporting BFAR programs for fisheries resource protection and the safe utilization of fishery resources.

The strengthened facility also complements FishCoRe’s support for research and regulatory facilities and the project’s broader objective of improving fisheries management and strengthening resilient fisheries and coastal communities.

With the upgraded RFL3, BFAR Region 3 continues to strengthen its capacity to deliver timely, reliable, and science-based technical services in support of fisheries and aquatic resource development, conservation, management, protection, and sustainable utilization.