MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, April 27, 2021 – The Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program distributed 366,000 tilapia fingerlings and 70,400 hito fingerlings to 946 fisherfolk in the municipalities of Barlig, Bauko, Besao, Bontoc, Natonin, Paracelis, Sadanga, and Sagada. 

The fishery inputs are part of the polyculture livelihood project wherein each unit is composed of 800 tilapia fingerlings, 200 hito fingerlings, and 10 bags of feeds. In five months of culture period, the fisherfolk expect to harvest in September.

“Thank you for providing the feeds and fingerlings, all of the fingerlings are in good condition and had a big chance that they will all survive the days of being cultured,” said Mrs. Zecima E. Mabiasan, Secretary of Gueday Fisherfolk and Irrigators Association.

In March 2021, 9 training events on aquaculture were also conducted benefiting 436 fisherfolk. The training aims to improve the fishers’ technical know-how and to showcase the sustainability of their livelihood project. 

Prior to the implementation of the program, the beneficiaries were oriented to familiarize themselves with the components of the projects. The Provincial Fishery Office (PFO) also validated their areas.

“Thank you so much for the training you have conducted. This is a big help to us. We hope that this program of the government will continue to help us,” said Lambert Sannad, the President of the Tamboan Fisherfolk Organization.

SAAD Mountain Province received a total of Php 37 million for its three-year implementation (2019 to 2021). A total of Php 10 million was allotted this year for 510 livelihood projects.

As the community quarantine still remains in Cordillera Region, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) assures that the fishery livelihood project implementation remains unhampered to accelerate effort on continuous food availability.

In fact, the bureau records 63% implementation status in Mountain Province in 2021. This reflects about 500 livelihood projects such as pond culture and rice-fish culture, and 10 series of training events benefiting about 1,392 fisherfolk.

SAAD is a locally funded program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) which aims to help alleviate poverty among the marginalized sectors in agriculture and fisheries.

BFAR guarantees that amid COVID -19 pandemic, continuous aid will be provided to the beneficiaries to give them additional yield and to increase the fish sufficiency level in the region. ###

Writer: Rodelyn Q. Foronda, BFAR-CAR Community Development Officer I
Source of Photos: BFAR CAR