ILOILO CITY (PIA) — More than 60 residents participated in identifying suitable projects for the community in the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)’s three-day Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) held in the island Barangay of Igbon in Concepcion, Iloilo.
Under the BFAR’s Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program, all involved stakeholders aimed to co-create solutions that are not only sustainable but also reflective of the unique needs of their locality by directly gathering their insights, perspectives, and aspirations.
The BFAR statement said this endeavor is integral to the SAAD Program’s principles of inclusive and community-driven development strategies.
BFAR Regional Fisheries Training and Fisherfolk Coordination Division chief Jessica C. Esmao emphasized the significance of community involvement in
shaping fisheries and community development initiatives.
“Ari kita subong para sa participatory nga pagplano sang nagakaangay nga programa para sa inyo kag halin man sa inyo,” noted Esmao.
(We are gathered here today for a participatory manner of planning the appropriate projects for your communities, identified by you.)
Throughout the phases of PRA which included mapping, timeline and trend analysis, economic activities examination, and problem and solution identification, locals engaged in discussions, knowledge sharing of local agricultural practices, identifying challenges, and proposing potential solutions.
“Kon kita naga-isa, ang tanan nga bagay mahapos ubrahon, gani gapasalamat gid kami sa inyo [BFAR 6] wala [sang] sawa nga pagbalik-balik sa amon isla,” said barangay official Johnny A. Articulo,
(Everything we do becomes easy when we are united and we thank you [BFAR 6] for your untiring support to our island.)
The insights gained from the appraisal conducted will inform the design and implementation of targeted interventions ultimately aimed at improving the quality of life of the residents in Igbon, Concepcion.
The PRA is part of the ongoing implementation of the five-year SAAD Program and the “Adopt-a-Village” Program through the BFAR’s public-private-community partnership implementation in the region. (AAL/AGP/PIA 6)
