THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) is building a P3 million Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC) in the island municipality of Tabuan, Lasa, Basilan province.
Alano Alihuddin, Basilan provincial fishery officer of BFAR-Armm, along with other officials sailed on Tuesday and spearheaded the ground breaking ceremony signaling the start of the construction of the CFLC.
Local government officials, community leaders and other stakeholders have joined Alihuddin during the groundbreaking ceremony of the project located in the village of Lanawan Proper, Tabuan Lasa town.
Alihuddin said the construction of the CFLC project is funded by the BFAR central office through its national fisheries program.
The construction of the CFLC is aimed to reduce poverty since it is envisioned to serve as the business center of the community as well as that of the nearby areas.
The fishermen will no longer have to transport and sell their catch in other places since they can sell it at the fish landing center.
Alihuddin said fish traders directly “purchase and ship out the fish and possibly other marine products” at the center.
He said the construction of the CFLC in Tabuan Lasa town is the first of the six projects lined up for Basilan province this year.
The other five CFLCs will be constructed in Langil Island, Mohammad Ajul, Upper Bato-Bato, Akbar, Atong-Atong, Lantawan, Ungkay Pukan, and Tipo-Tipo.
They will employ personnel to capacitate the community to ensure the sustainability of the CFLC project.
Panduh Junaid, village chief of Lanawan proper, Tabuan Lasa, on behalf of his constituents has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the BFAR for the construction of the CFLC in his place.
The CFLC will boost the livelihood of the fisher folks in his village as well as that of the nearby villages.
Zaida Tali, a madaris teacher, said the CFLC will be of big help to the community as it will serve as the fish trading center once the project is completed.
The main source of living of the residents of Tabuan Lasa municipality is fishing.
The municipality of Tabuan Lasa, which comprises of four islands, has 12 villages with a population of 18,635 as of the 2010 census.