Ten new subprojects under the Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project are set for rollout this year, as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-CAR) conducts comprehensive screening and scoping activities to ensure they meet the World Bank’s environmental and social standards, strengthening fisheries resilience and community livelihoods here in Abra province.
Each project site was validated to identify key community and environmental considerations before implementation. To support this process, BFAR-CAR, in coordination with the Provincial Fisheries Office (PFO) of Abra, representatives from the Regional Project Implementation Unit (RPIU) 6, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local government units, and other stakeholders, conducted an Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) in the municipalities of Villaviciosa, Tineg, Pidigan, and Langiden. This scoping activity serves as a critical step in project implementation, helping to identify potential impacts, engage local communities, and ensure that the proposed subprojects align with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework for sustainable and inclusive development.
After site validation, the group convened to discuss observations about the proposed projects and their respective locations. During the scoping proper, Dr. Lilibeth L. Signey, Assistant Technical Coordinator of FCU–CAR, presented the proposed subprojects based on pre-scoping consultations among the beneficiaries. These include grow out culture of freshwater prawn (ulang) in ponds for Villaviciosa, and Kadiwa-style Fish Mart initiatives in Tineg, Pidigan, and Langiden. She also provided an overview of the FishCoRe program, a seven-year, World Bank-funded initiative running from 2023 to 2029, which aims to support fisheries resilience and livelihood development.
“The project assistance will be provided in kind, while you, the beneficiary associations, are expected to provide counterparts such as facilities, labor, utilities, and other operational costs. Also, these proposed enterprises include the sale of fresh and processed fishery products such as bagoong, sardines, and other value-added goods, ” said Dr. Signey.
Meanwhile, an environmental and social safeguards framework was administered to assess and score the potential environmental and social impacts of the proposed project. The activity was facilitated by Ms. Manilyn H. Cherweg, Environmental Safeguards Focal Person of the FCU-CAR, and Ms. Marivi Abobo, Environmental Safeguards Focal Person of RPIU 6.
Ms. Abobo highlighted the importance of ensuring that all association members are fully informed about the project to promote inclusivity and sustainability. Meanwhile, Ms. Hydee Palma, Aquaculture Technical Coordinator (ATC) of the RPIU 6 highlighted the need to clearly define operational plans, including logistics, market identification, product volume estimates, and the possible use of solar-powered equipment to sustain operations during power interruptions.
During the site visit in Villaviciosa, it was discovered that some identified ponds for the Ulang grow-out project were located within the neighboring municipality of San Isidro, based on validation by the DENR. This discrepancy, caused by unclear natural boundaries, prompted the presentation of alternative livelihood options such as fish processing, value-adding activities, and mobile fish marketing schemes.
In Tineg, a Kadiwa-Style Fish Mart proposed by the Caganayan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association was assessed and found compliant with environmental and social safeguards. The project does not fall under restricted categories, does not involve child or forced labor, and is not located within ancestral domains or declared heritage sites. The proposed site is privately owned by a member of the association and has no tenurial issues. Similar subprojects were proposed in Pidigan by the Alinaya Fisherfolk Association and in Langiden by the Caganayan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association, both on Kadiwa-Style Fish Mart operations and fish processing.
After the screening, the FCU-CAR will endorse the Environmental and Social (ES) checklist based on the results of each subproject and proceed with the preparation of the Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) for submission to RPIU 6. A no-objection letter will then be secured as a prerequisite for the procurement and eventual turnover of project inputs.
Local government officials expressed their strong support for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of proper project management by the beneficiary associations. They noted that such interventions will not only improve livelihoods but also contribute to community development.
“While the project is being given to your association as a grant, it should not be taken for granted nor neglected. Take the ownership of the project and ensure its long-term success for the benefit of our community, said Ms. Palma in her closing message.
The scoping activities for the remaining six proposed subprojects in Bangued, Bucay, Dolores, Luba, Manabo, and Sallapadan will be undertaken in April. Said projects are to be funded under the FishCoRe’s Modern and Resilient Livelihood Investment Sub-component 2.1 or the Fisher’s Livelihood Diversification and Development.//
Comments are closed for this post.