SORSOGON, September 07, 2020 – State-sponsored subsidies and grants are critical and urgent to the marginalized in times of socio-economic and health crises. While faced with the rise of unemployment rate, alternative livelihood programs are of great significance to the citizens. In Region 5, oyster aqua-culturist beneficiaries received intervention on Oyster Culture Bamboo Raft Method Project from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.

The BFAR-SAAD Region 5 was welcomed by Sorsogon fisherfolk beneficiaries upon delivery of components of the oyster plot hanging method on September 3, 2020.

Thirty-one (31) identified fisherfolk beneficiaries from the municipalities of Juban (18 fisherfolk) and Castilla (13 fisherfolk) Sorsogon shared the grant of 31 units of bamboo oyster plots with a total value of Php 403,000.00. Eighteen of the 31 units of 1×20 meter oyster plots were granted to Brgy. Tughan in Juban, while 13 units went to Harong Pagkamoot, Gawad Kalinga Site in Brgy. Poblacion, Castilla.

Despite instituting several modifications of community quarantine protocols, which possibly caused delays due to limited mobility, the intervention was delivered as scheduled on the implementation calendar.

According to alternate BFAR-SAAD Region 5 Focal, Mr. Salvador Taduran, Jr., “Oyster plot hanging method is one of the requested livelihood interventions by the SAAD beneficiaries. The municipalit[ies] of Juban and Castilla in the province of Sorsogon [are] considered as feasible/suitable areas for oyster culture. It is also the traditional area for oyster culture.”

The turn-over ceremonies were attended by Mr. Ariel U. Pioquinto from the Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division (FMRED); Mr. Arnaldo Romeo A. Claveron, from Sorsogon Provincial Fishery Office; Mr. Salvador Taduran, Jr., alternate SAAD Focal Person; Ms. Cristina A. Gabito and Ms. Rafaela C. Bose, SAAD Coordinators for Sorsogon; and Ms. Raquel G. Buitizon and Ms. Genevieve Flores, FLDTs or Fisheries Livelihood Development Technicians.

The local government unit of Juban was represented by Ms. Jenny A. Gabito from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) and the Agricultural Technician and staff for fisheries. Mr. Ermue Habulin, Brgy. Tughan chairperson, and Ms. Rowena Gresola, from Juban Municipal Office, expressed gratitude to BFAR-SAAD for the continued support to Juban fisherfolk.

Mr. Taduran added that the harvest of the slipper-shaped oyster or Crassostrea iredalei (most common breed) and curly/palm-rooted oyster or C. palmipes on the oyster plots takes about 8-9 months, with an expected quantity of 50 sacks per unit. It has a current market price of Php 300.00 per sack, making a projected value of Php 15,000.00 per cropping unit. ###

Writer:

Jessamae Gabon, DA SAAD NPMO, Public Relations, and Communications Officer

Sources:

Mr. Salvador Taduran Jr., BFAR-SAAD Region 5 Focal Person

Mr. Kit Jasper Gopela, NPMO, PME Focal for Fisheries

BFAR Bikol Facebook Page

Photo courtesy of BFAR Bikol