JASAAN, Misamis Oriental โ The Fisheries Management Area Coordinating Unitโ10 (FCU-10) of the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project has officially turned over the Rabbitfish Culture in HDPE Cages subproject to the Bobontugan Small Livelihood Fisherfolk Association (BSFLA) of Jasaan, Misamis Oriental on 21 January 2026.
Valued at โฑ4.9 million, the subproject features four high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cages designed for the growโout culture of rabbitfish (local name: danggit). It is expected to provide an alternative livelihood for around 50 BSLFA members and their families.
Stocking activities were conducted in December 2025, with the release of approximately 30,000 siganid fry sourced from Malapatan, Sarangani Province. FCU-10 is also providing feeds for the siganids fry until the second cropping.
The initiative falls under Subcomponent 2.1 of the Modern and Resilient Livelihood Investment (MARLIN), which focuses on Fishers’ Livelihood Diversification and Development.
โWe hope that this subproject will help improve your lives and that you will work together to sustain it,โ said Arlene Novo, Provincial Fishery Officer of Misamis Oriental, in her message to the beneficiaries.
Members of BSLFA are registered municipal fisherfolk primarily engaged in sardine fishing. With the upcoming rollout of the Sardines Fisheries Management Plan, which will introduce management measures that may limit fishing effort, the alternative livelihood project is expected to help cushion potential income impacts.
BSFLA President Eduardo Aton expressed gratitude to the FishCoRe Project for selecting their association as one of the pioneering beneficiaries.
โWe are thankful because among the many fisherfolk associations across the region, we were chosen as one of the first beneficiaries. The work will not be easy, but we will continue to work tirelessly to sustain this subprojectโnot only for ourselves, but also for our families and our community,โ Aton said.
Local government officials from Barangay Bobontugan and the Municipality of Jasaan were present during the turnover ceremony. The Municipal Mayor Redentor Jardin challenged the beneficiaries to manage the project well, to eventually become reliable suppliers of siganids to hotels and restaurants in the province.
The first harvest is expected after six months, once the fish reach an average market size of 250 grams per piece. This is expected to coincide with the turnover of other FCUโ10 livelihood subprojects in Northern Mindanao scheduled within the same period.
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