CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)-- Aiding in post-disaster recovery, the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)-10 has allocated P73.62 million to bolster the fishery rehabilitation project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-10.
Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado handed over the check to BFAR-10 through Regional Director Edward B. Yasay on December 29. The funding comes in response to the devastating effects of shear line-induced flash floods and wind convergence that affected the region from December 24 to -27, 2022.
Recognizing the severity of the impact on the fishery sector, officials from both DA-RFO-10 and BFAR-10 signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to kickstart the rehabilitation project.
To ensure the sustainable development and conservation of agricultural and aquatic resources, Collado reaffirmed the department's commitment to supporting the project. Emphasizing its pivotal role in post-disaster rehabilitation, the initiative aims to uplift the welfare of fisherfolk while revitalizing stricken coastal communities.
The allocated funds will cover various aspects of the rehabilitation effort, including the provision of 1,259 units of motorized fiber-reinforced plastic material with multiple handling fishing gear (labor and materials) amounting to P71.16 million.
Additionally, 58 units of net gear (P670,650), two units of payao (P76,450), and a supply of fingerlings, such as Hito (10,000 pieces), Tilapia (89,060 pieces), and Milkfish (40,000 pieces), will be distributed, totaling P379,060.
A specific portion of the funds, amounting to P1.33 million, has been earmarked for the rehabilitation of the Malaubang Brackishwater Fish Farm in Ozamis City. For Misamis Occidental and nearby provinces, the facility run by BFAR-10 is a crucial source of fingerlings.
Yasay stressed the importance of the intervention for calamity-affected fisherfolk across the five provinces of northern Mindanao. He emphasized that the provision of motorized boats, fishing gear, and other paraphernalia, along with the supply of fingerlings, is not only essential for restoring livelihoods but also for ensuring a continuous supply of fishery products in the region.
The collaborative effort aims to bring about a positive transformation in the fishery sector, reinforcing northern Mindanao's resilience and commitment to sustainable development. (RTP/RLRB/PIA-10)
