SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 15, 2012) – The Philippine government is pursuing its so-called “Fish for Peace” program in Mindanao that aims to effect sustainable fisheries development through the implementation of environment-friendly livelihood projects, and fishery and marine conservation measures.
Just this year, the Bureau of Fisheries held a regional consultation with Governors Sakur Tan, of Sulu province; Jum Akbar, of Basilan, Sadikul Sahali, of Tawi-Tawi and 32 other municipal mayors, in Zamboanga City on the proposed program.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala also announced the release of some P24.5 million to fund fishery and livelihood projects that will benefit fishermen in the Muslim autonomous region, particularly those in island-municipalities.
“The DA-BFAR investment of P24.53 million was matched by almost the same amount by our ARMM local government units, either in the form of material or labor counterpart,” Alcala said.
Fisheries Director Asis Perez said the fund will also be used to purchase motor engines to 67 patrol boats to protect municipal waters in the region from illegal fishermen and poachers.
Of the total P24.5 million, more than half or P12.9 million was used to procure 16 units of non-motorized banca, 15 motor engines, 10 fish driers, 2,500 fish pots, and 250 units of gill nets which were distributed to about a thousand fisher-families along the 288,000-hectare Liguasan Marsh, which is bounded by Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
Perez said the DA-BFAR plans to develop a portion of Liguasan Marsh into a center for freshwater fish biodiversity. Tilapia is one of more than a dozen freshwater species found in Liguasan. It also supports endemic flora and fauna that include 92 species of birds, six species of reptiles, and five species of amphibians, among others.
Another P8.8 million was allotted for an aqua-silviculture program that included the establishment of five multi-species hatcheries worth P6 million;, mangrove rehabilitation amounting to P1.4 million, and setting up of 20 aqua-silviculture techno-demo farms that is worth P1.36 million.
Perez said the DA-BFAR and ARMM local governments have jointly planted 225,000 mangrove propagules, worth P1.4 million. The agency also partnered with five state universities and colleges to jointly establish multi-species hatcheries. They include Basilan State College, and four Mindanao State University campuses in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, and Marawi City.
Finally, about P2.8 million was allotted for two units of ice-maker equipment, 12 sets of seaweeds farm inputs, 200 kilos of seaweed seedlings, and other fishing paraphernalia worth some P2.175 million, and 2.4 million pieces of fingerlings.
In 2011, the region produced 909,320 tons of fishery and aquaculture products, valued at P14.58 billion at current prices, according to the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics. The volume represents 18.3 percent of the country’s total production, at 4.98 million tons.
The ARMM remains as the country’s top seaweed producer. Last year, it harvested 686,450 tons valued at P4.3B, which represents 37% of the country’s total seaweed output, at 1.84 million tons worth P11.39 billion. (With a report from Jerome Carlo Paunan)
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