TWO fisherfolk associations from the towns of Maribojoc and Guindulman in Bohol have reaped the benefits of the fishery projects granted to them by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) 7.
The fisherfolk group Kilusang Pagbabago from Maribojoc has earned P152,800 from its recent harvest.
Candido Samijon, chief of the Bfar 7-Bohol Provincial Fishery Office (PFO), said the group harvested on May 20, 2021, at least 1,176 kilograms of milkfish or “bangus” that were sold at P130 per kilogram, the Bfar 7 reported on its Facebook page.
He said the harvest came from the bangus floating fish cage project, which is an endeavor earmarked under the Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (Target) program of Bfar 7.
The Target program seeks to alleviate the poverty status among “targeted” fishing communities by providing them with comprehensive livelihood packages.
In another development, the Cansiwang-Tabunoc Small Irrigators Association from Guindulman town harvested over 2,500 kilograms of tilapia from its floating fish cage, which is also a project spearheaded by Bfar 7.
The Bohol PFO, together with the Local Office for Agricultural Services of Guindulman, assisted the beneficiaries during the harvest that also happened on May 20.
Samijon said the association earned about P250,000 from the harvested freshwater tilapia, which was sold at P100.
He said the floating fish cage, with the Bfar’s support, was established at the Small Water Impounding Project initiated by the Department of Agriculture for rice irrigation.
Samijon said this recent project is funded under the stimulus package, which was authorized by Republic Act 11494, or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2), that aims to boost the country’s aquaculture production.
He said these fishery projects intend to support the livelihood of marginalized fisherfolks, especially at this time pandemic, as well as to sustain the food sufficiency measures in the region amid the crisis.