BFAR Western Visayas Regional Director Remia Aparri says support is available for local government units for the management of their municipal waters.
ILOILO CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is ready to support local government units (LGUs) located in coastal areas with technical assistance and capacity building for them to deliver what are expected of them.
In an interview Monday, BFAR Regional Director Remia Aparri said LGUs are faced with the challenge of “managing the municipal waters that is within their jurisdiction”.
She lauded the responses of LGUs in terms of protecting their jurisdiction, attributing this to BFAR’s flagship advocacy program “Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan”.
“It is an award as offshoot for managing their municipal waters,” she said.
Winners at the national level receive an incentive of PHP30 million worth of fishery projects; PHP18 million for the second placers and PHP12 million for the third placers.
Meanwhile, in the regional level, the first placer receives PHP2 million; second placer, PHP1 million and the third placer gets PHP500,000 worth of fishery projects.
Aparri said coastal LGUs also need to improve post-harvest component, support facilities, sustainable management, and law enforcement activities.
One prominent support that is being extended by the BFAR is the community fish landing center (CFLC) which the agency managed to put up in Western Visayas.
The CFLC serves as “landing center for the catch of municipal fishers so we can consolidate, account and monitor the status of the fishery,” Aparri said.
She added that CFLC also ensures the quality of fish through post-harvest, processing and practices that are being introduced to participants; develops value adding to fishery products; and serves as training hub for any activity of the LGU and the fisherfolk.
Aparri said the observance of the 55th Fishery Conservation Week this September 17-21 is a call on LGUs on the proper management of their waters.
“This is more on the management, protection of municipal waters, which will support the fishing industry of our country,” she said.
This year’s celebration anchors on the theme “Kapag Karagatan ng Munisipal ay Inaalagaan, Sasagana ang Yamang-Dagat ng Buong Sambayanan”.
One of the highlights of the week-long celebration is the inauguration of the Iloilo provincial office of BFAR at the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) compound, seafood trade fair and exhibit, mangrove planting and recognition of BFAR partners, among others. (PNA)
