IN THE bid to strengthen the participation of local small fishers in fisheries governance, a workshop-forum on Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMC) will be conducted in Bacolod City Friday, October 30.
It is organized by the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM)-Negros, in partnership with the non-government organizations (NGOs) for Fisheries Reform and University of Rhode Island (URI).
The participating fisherfolk are from various local government units (LGUS) in Negros Occidental.
During the activity, people's organizations (POs) in every LGU will have the opportunity to bring up issues and concerns, as well as the status of their respective organizations and councils.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) will present the concept of FARMC based on Fisheries Administrative Order 196, its current status and other issues concerning the councils in the province.
The event is part of the strategic actions of the NFR-Fish Right Program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) to improve the engagement and support of the institutions, stakeholders and resource users towards an effective fisheries management and governance.
The PRRM-Negros, in a statement, said many of the POs are facing difficulties in organizing their FARMC especially during this time of pandemic.
It said other organizations having a hard time in forming their FARMC due to unaccredited POs.
"These concerns are one of the goals of the event to be resolved and figured out so they will be empowered and can stand for their own rights," it said, adding that "through this event the voice of our small fisherfolk will be heard."
For a group of fisherfolk in Manapla town, the FARMC has a great help in implementing and consulting the fisheries law.
The event also marks the celebration of the 34th Anniversary of PRRM-Negros.
It is themed "Continuing the Work on Building Democracy and Sustainable Development from the Bottom Up."