Aklan
Aklan, the oldest province in the Philippines, situated in the Western Visayas region on the island of Panay, boasts a diverse landscape ranging from mountains to extensive coastlines. Kalibo serves as its capital and largest municipality. While Aklan is known for being the gateway to the world-famous Boracay Island with its stunning white-sand beaches, the province itself offers a rich blend of natural and cultural attractions. Agriculture, particularly rice and coconut production, alongside fishing, contributes to its economy, although the services sector, bolstered by tourism, holds a significant share. Aklanon culture is vibrant, evident in traditions like the renowned Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-atihan Festival, considered the “Mother of all Philippine Festivals,” and the intricate art of piña handloom weaving, a recognized UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Beyond Boracay, Aklan offers eco-tourism sites like Bakhawan Eco Park, cascading waterfalls such as Jawili Falls, and historical landmarks, making it a province with a multifaceted appeal.
Aklan’s economy is diverse, with agriculture, fisheries, industry, and tourism as its main sectors. Agriculture remains a cornerstone, with rice (palay) being the primary crop cultivated over 42,218 hectares. Coconut farming is also significant, with 32,276 hectares planted, making it a major contributor to copra production. The province is known for its production of piña and abaca fibers, which are crafted into traditional textiles and handicrafts.
Overall, Aklan combines natural beauty, cultural heritage, and economic diversity, positioning it as a significant province in the Western Visayas region.
Agricultural Sector
The agricultural sector in Aklan presents a mixed landscape with both positive developments and considerable challenges. Palay (unhusked rice) production saw a notable increase of 12.02 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year, driven by an expansion in irrigated areas and improved yields. This makes Aklan the fifth highest palay producer in the Western Visayas region during this period. However, not all sectors experienced growth. Corn production in Aklan witnessed a significant drop of 49.30 percent in the same quarter of 2024, making it the lowest-ranked corn producer in the region. The government continues to support Aklan’s agricultural sector through infrastructure development, provision of modern facilities, and training programs, aiming for enhanced productivity and food security in the province.
Fisheries Sector
The fisheries sector in Aklan demonstrated a positive trend in 2023, with a total estimated production of 19,868 metric tons, marking an 11.24 percent increase compared to the 17,860 metric tons recorded in 2022. This growth was primarily driven by a significant surge in commercial fisheries production, which more than tripled compared to the previous year. Municipal fisheries also saw a slight increase of 0.91 percent, attributed to a growth in the marine fisheries sub-sector, which constituted the majority of the municipal production. However, inland fisheries experienced a notable decline of 24.81 percent. Aquaculture in Aklan, while still contributing a substantial volume, saw a decrease of 18.92 percent in 2023, mainly due to lower production in milkfish and oyster, the top two species in this sub-sector. Despite this decline in aquaculture, the overall fisheries sector in Aklan showed improvement in 2023, with commercial and marine municipal fisheries as key contributors to this growth. The province also has a considerable area dedicated to fishponds, highlighting the importance of aquaculture alongside marine fishing activities for the livelihoods of Aklanon communities.
Poverty Situation
Project Profile
DA
The Department of Agriculture’s Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program has been actively implementing initiatives in Aklan to uplift the livelihoods of marginalized farmers and fisherfolk. In 2023, during Phase 2 of the program, the DA-SAAD conducted Beneficiary Needs Assessments (BNA) in the municipalities of Tangalan and Buruanga. These assessments aimed to identify the specific agricultural needs of local farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs), ensuring that interventions are tailored to the unique requirements of each community. The DA-SAAD Program’s interventions in Aklan are part of a broader strategy to reduce poverty and promote sustainable agricultural development in the region. By focusing on capacity-building, provision of appropriate technologies, and community-driven planning, the program aims to empower local farmers and fisherfolk, enabling them to achieve improved livelihoods and contribute to the province’s overall economic growth.
| Year Covered | Municipality | Barangay | Project | Association | Members | Input Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | BURUANGA | BAGONG BAYAN | COFFEE AND NATIVE CHICKEN PRODUCTION BURUANGA, AKLAN | Bagong Bayan Vegetable And Livestock Farmers Association | 30 | 927,800.00 |
| 2023 | BURUANGA | BALUSBOS | MUSHROOM PRODUCTION, BURUANGA, AKLAN | Balusbos Farmer's Association | 30 | 352,050.00 |
| 2023 | BURUANGA | TAG-OSIP | PINEAPPLE PRODUCTION BURUANGA, AKLAN | Tag-osip Farmers' Association | 30 | 1,043,750.00 |
| 2023 | BURUANGA | TIGUM | CORN PRODUCTION IN BURUANGA, AKLAN | Sapsapon Vegetable Growers Association | 30 | 1,307,000.00 |
| 2023 | TANGALAN | DUMATAD | LOWLAND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION TANGALAN, AKLAN | Dumatad Vegetable Farmers Association | 30 | 983,300.00 |
| 2023 | TANGALAN | PANAYAKAN | HYBRID CORN PRODUCTION IN TANGALAN, AKLAN | Panayakan/lanipga Multi-purpose Cooperative (plmpc) | 30 | 1,324,500.00 |
| 2023 | TANGALAN | PUDIOT | BANANA PRODUCTION TANGALAN, AKLAN | Sitio Ilaya Pudiot Tangalan Farmers Association | 30 | 661,250.00 |
| 2023 | TANGALAN | TAGAS | LOWLAND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN TANGALAN, AKLAN | Tagas Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative | 30 | 1,058,200.00 |
| 2024 | BURUANGA | BAGONG BAYAN | Vegetable Production Insupport to Coffee and Native Chicken Production | Bagong Bayan Vegetable And Livestock Farmers Association | 50 | 765,530.00 |
| 2024 | BURUANGA | BALUSBOS | Native Chicken Production Insupport to Mushroom Production | Balusbos Farmer's Association | 50 | 1,152,750.00 |
| 2024 | BURUANGA | TAG-OSIP | Banana Production Insupport to Pineapple Production | Tag-osip Farmers' Association | 50 | 805,400.00 |
| 2024 | BURUANGA | TIGUM | In support to Corn Production | Sapsapon Vegetable Growers Association | 50 | 1,436,920.00 |
| 2024 | TANGALAN | DUMATAD | In Support to Lowland Vegetable Production | Dumatad Vegetable Farmers Association | 40 | 763,300.00 |
| 2024 | TANGALAN | PANAYAKAN | Peanut Production In Support to Hybrid Corn | Panayakan/lanipga Multi-purpose Cooperative (plmpc) | 50 | 857,000.00 |
| 2024 | TANGALAN | PUDIOT | Vegetable Production Insupport to Banana Production | Sitio Ilaya Pudiot Tangalan Farmers Association | 40 | 763,300.00 |
| 2024 | TANGALAN | TAGAS | Native Chicken In Support to Lowland Vegetable Production | Tagas Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative | 50 | 1,015,700.00 |
| 2025 | BURUANGA | BAGONG BAYAN | Coffee, Native Chicken and Vegetable Production in Brgy. Bagongbayan, Buruanga, Aklan FY 2025 | Bagong Bayan Vegetable And Livestock Farmers Association | 40 | 580,500.00 |
| 2025 | BURUANGA | BALUSBOS | Mushroom and Native Chicken Production in Brgy. Balusbos, Buruanga, Aklan for FY 2025 | Balusbos Farmer's Association | 50 | 1,121,000.00 |
| 2025 | BURUANGA | TAG-OSIP | Pineapple and Banana Production in Brgy. Tag-osip, Buruanga, Aklan for FY 2025 | Tag-osip Farmers' Association | 40 | 947,500.00 |
| 2025 | BURUANGA | TIGUM | Native Chicken Production In Support to Corn Production in Brgy. Tigum, Buruanga, Aklan for FY 2025 | Sapsapon Vegetable Growers Association | 35 | 1,913,470.00 |
| 2025 | TANGALAN | DUMATAD | Lowland Vegetable and Chicken Layer Egg Productionin Brgy. Dumatad, Tangalan, Aklan FY 2025 | Dumatad Vegetable Farmers Association | 30 | 971,620.00 |
| 2025 | TANGALAN | PANAYAKAN | In Support to Hybrid Corn Production in Barangay Panayakan, Tangalan, Aklan for FY 2025 | Panayakan/lanipga Multi-purpose Cooperative (plmpc) | 50 | 1,162,700.00 |
| 2025 | TANGALAN | PUDIOT | Banana and Vegetable Production in Brgy, Pudiot, Tangalan, Aklan FY 2025 | Sitio Ilaya Pudiot Tangalan Farmers Association | 40 | 1,522,950.00 |
| 2025 | TANGALAN | TAGAS | Lowland Vegetable and Native Chicken Production in Brgy. Tagas, Tangalan, Aklan FY 2025 | Tagas Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative | 50 | 712,000.00 |
| 2026 | BURUANGA | BAGONG BAYAN | Coffee, Native Chicken and Vegetable Production in Brgy. Bagongbayan, Buruanga, Aklan for FY 2026 | Bagongbayan Vegetable And Livestock Farmer's Association | 30 | 588,660.00 |
| 2026 | BURUANGA | BALUSBOS | Mushroom and Native Chicken Production in Brgy. Balusbos, Buruanga, Aklan for FY 2026 | Balusbos Farmer's Association | 40 | 905,410.00 |
| 2026 | BURUANGA | TAG-OSIP | Pineapple and Banana Production in Brgy. Tag-osip, Buruanga, Aklan for FY 2026 | Tag-osip Farmers' Association | 30 | 111,160.00 |
| 2026 | BURUANGA | TIGUM | Native Chicken Production In Support to Corn Production in Brgy. Tigum, Buruanga, Aklan for FY 2026 | Sapsapon Vegetable Growers Association | 30 | 1,383,950.00 |
| 2026 | TANGALAN | DUMATAD | Lowland Vegetable and Chicken Layer Egg Productionin Brgy. Dumatad, Tangalan, Aklan for FY 2026 | Dumatad Vegetable Farmers Association | 30 | 1,662,450.00 |
| 2026 | TANGALAN | PUDIOT | Banana and Vegetable Production in Brgy, Pudiot, Tangalan, Aklan for FY 2026 | Sitio Ilaya Pudiot Tangalan Farmers Association | 30 | 859,350.00 |
| 2026 | TANGALAN | TAGAS | Lowland Vegetable and Native Chicken Production in Brgy. Tagas, Tangalan, Aklan for FY 2026 | Tagas Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative | 40 | 898,050.00 |
BFAR
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) implemented the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program in Aklan, focusing on empowering marginalized fisherfolk communities through targeted interventions. A notable initiative is a comprehensive beneficiary needs assessment, the association received essential fishing tools and equipment, including gill nets, hook and line gear, fish vending carts, fish drying materials, and post-harvest kits. Additionally, members underwent training in fiberglass boat making under another program of BFAR, enhancing their skills and livelihood opportunities. The association is also set to receive further support, such as a milkfish cage culture unit, and other interventions, to bolster their fishing operations and income-generating activities. These interventions are part of BFAR-SAAD’s broader strategy to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development among fisherfolk in Aklan. By providing capacity-building programs and essential resources, the initiative aims to enhance the productivity and resilience of fishing communities, contributing to the province’s overall economic growth.
| Year Covered | Municipality | Barangay | Project | Association | Members | Input Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | BURUANGA | Tigum | Fishing Gear (Hook and Line) | Tigum Fisherfolk Association | 24 | 685,834.00 |
| 2023 | LEZO | Agcawilan | Tilapia Culture in Tank | Agcawilan Kabuhayan Fisherfolk Association | 23 | 616,710.00 |
| 2023 | TANGALAN | Dapdap | Fishing Gear (Bottom Set Gillnet, Multiple Handline) | Dapdap Mandaragat Association | 21 | 668,816.00 |
| 2024 | BURUANGA | Tigum | Motorized Boat (20 footer) | Tigum Fisherfolks Association | 24 | 1,361,220.00 |
| 2024 | LEZO | Agcawilan | Tilapia Culture in Pond | Agcawilan Kabuhayan Fisherfolk Association | 23 | 268,120.00 |
| 2024 | TANGALAN | Dapdap | Motorized Boat (20 footer) | Dapdap Mandaragat Association | 21 | 1,205,290.00 |
| 2025 | BURUANGA | Tigum | Fishing Gear (Bottom Set Gillnet, Drift Gillnet) | Tigum Fisherfolks Association | 24 | 1,145,376.00 |
| 2025 | LEZO | Agcawilan | Tilapia Culture in Pond | Agcawilan Kabuhayan Fisherfolk Association | 15 | 386,145.00 |
| 2025 | TANGALAN | Dapdap | Milkfish Culture in Bamboo Cage (10m x 10m x 5m) | Dapdap Mandaragat Association | 19 | 1,130,445.00 |
| 2026 | BURUANGA | Tigum | Fishing Gear (Squid Jigger, Multiple Handline, Bottom Set Gillnet) | Tigum Fisherfolks Association | 24 | 1,623,055.00 |
| 2026 | LEZO | Agcawilan | Tilapia Culture in Pond | Agcawilan Kabuhayan Fisherfolk Association | 19 | 503,435.00 |
| 2026 | TANGALAN | Dapdap | Milkfish Culture in Pond | Dapdap Mandaragat Association | 22 | 806,010.00 |