Caraga fisherfolks urged to strengthen
organizational efforts
By Salve M.
Dinolan
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte,
May 23 (PIA) -- During the recent field visit of current national fisherfolk
director (NFD) Dante Noces here in Caraga region, he repeatedly urged the local
fisherfolks to strengthen the efforts of their organizations for them to
benefit more from any developments.
The appeal of Noces, who is from
Region 1, was in response to the illegal fishing concerns in the province of
Dinagat Islands as expressed by the fisherfolks and lobster growers at the
meeting in the municipality of Cagdianao.
According to Noces, fisherfolks
shall help the government stop the illegal activities by taking care and
guarding their respective cages.
The Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources Management Councils (FARMCs), on the other hand, shall be
empowered to lobby the local government unit (LGU) to create a task force and
city/municipality ordinances to address these concerns.
Representatives from the National
Anti-Poverty Council (NAPC) who were with Noces suggested that if all else
fails, there is the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Memorandum Circular No. 2018-59, which sanctions the LGU for their inaction
towards the monitoring and regulation of fishery activities in the municipal
waters as part of their territorial jurisdictions.
As for alternate livelihood
programs to sustain the families of the lobster growers during off season,
former regional fisherfolk director (RFD) Ruben Timogan encouraged the group to
engaged in marine culture such bangus, tilapia, fish coral, seaweed farming,
among others.
The wives can also do the
marketing or do some handicrafts.
Noces, Timogan and this year’s RFD
Rebustiano Patayon, Jr. also paid a quick visit at a lobster and grouper farm
in Barangay Cabunga-an, Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands.
The Fisherfolk Directors Program
of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Res#CaragaFisherfolksources (BFAR) is in
pursuant to the provisions of Department of Agriculture (DA) Special Order No.
88, series of 2005, which states that one fisherfolk leader is chosen to act as
BFAR director at the national and regions levels in the whole month of May as
one of the highlights of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Month celebration.
During the month-long stint, the
fisherfolk leaders are expected to provide insights and recommendations to
advance the services of the bureau to the public.
Also, the regular BFAR directors
are required to undertake a 2-week community immersion program in coastal
villages to help them in drawing up more responsive programs and effective
implementation strategies for its clients. (BFAR-Caraga/VLG/PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
Fishery art exhibit showcased in ‘One Surigao’
celeb
By Salve M. Dinolan
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte,
May 23 -- In time with the 118th Founding Anniversary of “One Surigao” on May
14-15, 2019, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Caraga
featured several photos and paintings through a fishery art exhibit.
BFAR, together with other
stakeholders from the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and
Dinagat Islands, participated in the Agri-Aqua Trade Fair.
The celebration also highlighted
the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Rare Philippines
represented by its vice president Raquel Sanchez Tirona and BFAR-Caraga through
regional director Visa Tan-Dimerin for the Fish Forever/Fishing for Climate
Resilience Project.
Fish Forever is Rare’s
comprehensive and community-led solution to revitalizing coral reefs, mangroves
and seagrasses; protecting biodiversity; and securing the livelihood of the
coastal communities.
"One Surigao" event was
hosted by the provincial government office of Surigao del Norte held at the
Surigao Sports Complex. (BFAR-Caraga/VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
