This was disclosed by BFAR National Director Asis Perez in a press conference during the BFAR led Fishery Development Consultative Meeting with Cordillera local chief executives held at the Asian Fisheries Academy (AFA) of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) inside BFAR-Binloc compound in Dagupan City.
According to Mr Perez, at present there is ample fish supply and though the first quarter production is lesser by about four per cent compared to last year, they expect the production to peak-up as the fishing ban in Zamboanga has already been lifted, in addition that no major fish-kill reported for this year, which is also a welcome development for the production of the fishery sector in the country.
He also discloses that through the support of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, BFAR will be getting an increase allocation in their budget, and coupled with the rationalize spending that they are implementing this would surely help ensure an increase in productivity.
To support the sustainability of the production growth they are aiming for, Mr Perez also reported that BFAR is continuously implementing adaptation measures to help the fishery sector mitigate the effects of climate change.
BFAR is embarking on the planting of mangrove trees along the country’s coastal areas. “At present our target is to plant around 100 million mangroves in three years, as with healthy mangroves we will have healthy corals which will help make our fish/marine resources resilient,” Mr Perez stressed.
For the Cordillera, BFAR-CAR Regional Director Rebecca Dang-Awan, in the same presscon, disclosed that the region is more involved on inland resources management, wherein in partnership with the different local government units and other stakeholders, are engaged in planting trees such as the Ambuclao and Magat Dam and to other areas where their water impounding facilities are located.
Meantime, for the said consultative meeting, Mr Perez disclosed that the Agriculture Department, through BFAR is currently focusing on the Agri-Pinoy Fish Mart program which they are set to launch or pilot here in Cordillera.
Through the programme, BFAR, in partnership with the Cordillera Local Chief Executives, hopes to established a marketing chain that would link the production areas to the target consumers, in the goal of bringing in the needed fishery/marine products, as fresh as possible and on reasonable price, which would also help create livelihood or jobs for the local folks.
