BANGUED, Abra — Five fisherfolk associations in different municipalities of Abra province recently received a total of Php 3,251,850 worth of marketing equipment, benefiting around 325 fisherfolk individuals from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Cordillera Administrative Region (BFAR-CAR) under the FishCoRe Project, MARLIN Subcomponent funded by the World Bank, with its project, Kadiwa Style Fish Mart here at the Provincial Fisheries Office.
“Kayat mi kuma, haan ngay nga beneficiaries, nu di ket “partners”, partners tayo iti panag-dur-as iti ili,” (We wanted that you (fisherfolk) are not just beneficiaries, but (our) partners toward progressive community) said BFAR-CAR Regional Director Lois June B. Fermin during the awarding and turnover ceremony thanking the presence and cooperation of the fisherfolk associations on the said project. She also encouraged helping one another for the betterment of the province of Abra, contributing to the overall region of Cordillera.
“These fisheries livelihood projects are seeds of hope, planted today, and they will grow into thriving enterprises that will inspire communities and contribute to our nation’s food security,” shared Wilfredo Cruz, the Regional Director of BFAR Region 3, the lead region for RPIU 6, as read by Dr. Lilibeth Signey, the Assistant Technical Coordinator of FCU-CAR for the FishCoRe project.
The said fisherfolk groups became eligible to receive the project after completing the documentary requirements of the World Bank and obtaining a No Objection Letter from RPIU 6. The were the Bulbulaga and Malabbaga Fisherfolks Association – La Paz, San Isidro Farmers Association – Lagangilang, KaTribu Farmers and Fisherfolks Association – San Juan, Palanguneo Fisherfolks Association – San Quintin and Manmanaba Deet Farmers Association – Tayum along with their municipality’s agriculturists and representatives received a complete set of livelihood package to support the marketing of their fish and fishery products.
Each livelihood package costs Php 687,788 inclusive of 3 units of display racks, 10 pieces of HDPE insulated cooler boxes, 2 units of digital price-calculating weighing scales, 1 unit of 60-kg industrial weighing scale, 1 unit of 10-kg industrial weighing scale, 1 unit of stainless steel fish stall, 1 unit of upright inverter freezer, 6 pieces of plastic crates, 10 pieces of aprons, 25 packs each of large, medium, and small plastic bags, 2 pieces of record books and 1 signage/tarpaulin. The fish and fishery products component of the project will be delivered upon the request of the associations. These equipment will provide livelihood support to fisherfolk associations affected by regulatory measures, while also providing an opportunity for them to start a business and sustain livelihood thereby contributing to the overall development goal of the FishCoRe project toward fisheries resiliency.
Moreover, Marx Perfecto C. Garcia, the MARLIN Lead Focal, also encouraged beneficiaries to further enhance their skills and knowledge not only in marketing but also in processing value addition in order to have an increase in income coming from their commodities.
Representatives from the different local government units, particularly under the office of the Municipal Agriculturist, expressed their gratitude towards BFAR-CAR and the project, FishCore, for the opportunity being shared with fisherfolk communities, especially to small-scale fisherfolk associations.
Alongside these, representatives from these associations thanked these interventions. “Daytoy nga intervention, apo, dakkel unay ta mangited nga pagsayaatan ti asosasyon mi. Ket daytoy apo, ipateg min to apo,” shared Glenn Bonifacio A. Tangco from Manmanaba Deet Farmers Association.
Moreover, there will be an additional 400 kilos of shrimps, 600 kilos of milkfish, 500 bottles of bagoong (big and small sizes), smoked and marinated milkfish, which will later be delivered and serve as a capital for the fisherfolk associations.
MARLIN 2.1 Lead Focal Michelle Peralta also reminded partner associations of their responsibilities, which include maintaining a financial management system, keeping copies of receipts and important documents for inventory or audit purposes, paying wages for staff managing the association’s store, sharing profits or surplus among workers and members, maintaining facilities, and submitting monthly and quarterly reports.
Through projects like this, BFAR-CAR continues to empower fisherfolk associations in Abra, improving livelihoods, supporting sustainable fisheries, and contributing to community development across the Cordillera region.//
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