SARANGANI, July 7, 2021 – The Alabel Deputized Fish Warden Association (ADFWA) earned Php 28,211 in less than two months from the FY 2019 Capture Fishing Project of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.
ADFWA with 28 members was organized in 2016 and registered at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on August 4, 2017 to harvest naturally living resources in Celebes Sea.
Its members are composed of deputized fish wardens or “bantay dagat”, fish vendors, small scale fisherfolk, construction workers, and farmers residing in Poblacion, Alabel.
In April 2021, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 12 distributed Php 436,000 worth of two wooden boats (23ft length, 40 inches’ breadth, 48 inches’ depth) with complete sets of accessories.
The accessories include propeller, shafting, rudder, trapal, 30 liters capacity water container, battery (11 plates), fish finder (portable and waterproof with GPS), handheld radio with NTC registration, engine (12 horsepower) diesel, and 1 styro box with five blocks of ice storage capacity.
A total of 220.8 kilograms (kg) of fish catch was recorded and sold at a price range of Php 100-190/kg. Most of their catch includes pirit, pandawan, pakol, sambagon, karay, and tulay (Table 1).
Table 1. ADFWA’s Production Income
| Date Catch (2021) |
Fish Type | Volume (kg) |
Price/kg (Php) |
Gross Income (Php) |
| April 30 | Pirit (Auxis thazard), Pandawan(Coryphaena hippurus), Pakol (Balistes linnaeus), Sambagon (Katsuwonus pelamis), Karaw (Thunnus albacares), Salmon (Mullus barbatus) | 63.8 | 100-190 | 8,017 |
| May 25 | Pirit (Auxis thazard), Sambagon (Katsuwonus pelamis), Tulay/Matang Baka/Big-eye Scad (Selar crumenophthalmus) | 38.1 | 120-150 | 4,942 |
| June 8 | Tulay/Matang Baka/Big-eye Scad (Selar crumenophthalmus), Coryphaena hippurus | 38.9 | 120-140 | 5,252 |
| June 18 | Tulay/Matang Baka/Big-eye Scad (Selar crumenophthalmus), Katsuwonus pelamis | 80 | 100-150 | 10,000 |
| Total | 220.8 | 28,211 |
The group’s income was used to repay their borrowed capital (Php 5,000-7,000) for each 10-15 days’ fishing trip. At this time, they are determined to recuperate what they spent from their previous trips.
Plans
Based on their previous catches, the group could not meet the demand of the local buyers.
With that, the association aims to save enough money to buy another fishing boat and expand its operations in commercial waters to cater to the needs of the consumers. ###
Writer: Jennifer Valcobero, SAAD NPMO Public Relation and Comms Officer
Sources:
Czarina Go, BFAR-12 SAAD Focal Person
Jerson Nerez, Alabel Fisheries Coordinator
Melizza Sitiar, ADFWA Bookkeeper
Gemma Chyrel Moreno, PFO Sarangani
Photos by:
Janel Padro, BFAR-12 Aquacultural Technologist
