IMUS CITY, Cavite — Fisherfolk in Polillo and Panukulan towns in Quezon province now have their own community fish landing centers (CFLC) following the turnover of the two fishing facilities by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Calabarzon regional office.
BFAR Calabarzon Information Officer Jenny Gardon said Wednesday that Polillo and Panukulan towns received the community fish landing centers during turn-over rites on May 16 and 17, respectively, from BFAR 4-A Director Lilian C. Garcia.
Gardon said the community-based fish landing centers serve as hubs for economic activities, skills trainings, monitoring of fish catch stocks, information generation and a venue for sharing of sustainable and disaster-resilient fisheries-based livelihoods and resource management.
Present during the turn-over rites were Virginia Bartolome, Quezon Provincial Fisheries Officer (PFO); Mario Ramirez, Quezon sub-PFO; Chloe Taripe, fisherfolk coordinator and CFLC focal person; Jessie Morales, regional fisherfolk director; and other BFAR representatives.
BFAR also turned over the bundled equipment such as six stainless fish stalls, two chest freezers and solar panels for the two towns.
The BFAR-CFLC project under its Targeted Action to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET) umbrella program aims to reduce poverty incidence and help people increase their income.
The BFAR officials expressed optimism that the establishment of the community fish landing centers in the region could help the beneficiary towns to improve their economic stability and lessen poverty incidence.
The LGUs, a fisherfolk group and cooperative will manage and operate the CFLC as a self-sustaining facility.
The DA-BFAR project aims to promote and boost the fishery and aquaculture sector in the region in a bid to ensure food security and safety and provide relief on the longstanding poverty in the country.
The two newly-turned over facilities bring to 23 the number of LGU recipients from BFAR’s targeted 51 recipient government units.
Seven CFLCs are set to be turned over while the seven other facilities are currently under construction. (Gladys Pino/PNA)
