CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — Around 100 fisherfolks from the municipalities of Lubang and Looc in Occidental Mindoro participated in the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project (FishCoRe) Talakayan of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) MIMAROPA on October 15, 2024.
The FishCoRe Talakayan is part of a series of forums designed to bring together fisherfolk beneficiaries, local government units (LGUs), and other stakeholders.
The event aimed to increase awareness of the government’s flagship initiative among fisherfolk communities within the targeted Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs).
Through these sessions, participants gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the FishCoRe Project through comprehensive and interactive discussions. The project focuses on improving the sustainability of coastal and fishery resources while enhancing the livelihoods of those dependent on the industry.
In a press release, BFAR said that the forum provided key information about the project’s three main components: Fisheries and Coastal Resilient Resource Planning and Management (FishCRRM), Modern and Resilient Livelihood Investments (MARLIN), and Support to Project Implementation and Management (SuPrIM).
The FishCRRM and MARLIN components focus on better management of fisheries and coastal resources while boosting the value of fisheries production through investments in livelihood enterprises, technologies, facilities, and support services.
The initiative also encouraged fisherfolk to take an active role in ensuring the long-term success of the interventions granted to them.
Succeeding forums will be held in November in the provinces of Bohol, Misamis Oriental, and Ilocos Norte, where various interventions have already been planned for implementation.
According to BFAR, the FishCoRe project, with a total budget of US$209 million (P11.42 billion), is expected to benefit 1.15 million fisherfolk, small and medium enterprises, and other stakeholders in coastal communities across 11 regions and 24 provinces. (JJS/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro/Story and photo from BFAR MIMAROPA)
