TUGUEGARAO CITY—To boost local fishermen’s income, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has turned over more than P147 million worth of fisheries equipment and livelihood projects in Claveria town.
Agriculture Undersecretary and BFAR national director Eduardo Gongona led the distribution of 1,000 fiber reinforced plastic fishing boats, 3,990 fishing gear and paraphernalia, 48 chest freezers, 128 fish stalls, an air blast freezer, and 16 community fish landing centers.
Milagros Morales, BFAR Region 2 director, said the projects intend to generate income, employment, and economic activities to lower the poverty incidence in the fisheries sector, reduce post-harvest losses, and attain fish sufficiency in the country.
“The national government is working on reviving dying lakes and rivers with different species of fish as a priority thrust of the BFAR through ‘Balik-Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa,’ also called the BASIL project,” Gongona said.
BFAR also urged Cagayan province’s coastal towns to join the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan Search for Outstanding Coastal Municipalities.
The coastal towns are Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Aparri, Buguey, Gonzaga and Santa Ana.
Santa Ana has been cited for exemplifying outstanding efforts in mangrove rehabilitation, safeguarding a clean ocean, implementation of a closed fishing season, and forceful enforcement against all forms of illegal fishing.
Santa Ana is the seat of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, also called the Cagayan Freeport, with the 54,118-hectare Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport including the islands of Fuga, Barit and Mabbag in Aparri town.
Marie Joyce Jayme-Calimag, CEZA public relations chief, said the Authority’s advocacy on sustainable development and maintaining a balance between preservation and development has always been given top-most consideration.
She said ecological measures on waste management, water distribution system and air pollution control, among others, have always been included in CEZA’s development agenda.
“We are also an active member of Bantay Kalikasan, to ensure that no species is abused and harmed and that illegal activities that can threaten the environment like illegal logging, irresponsible dumping of wastes, among others, are prevented,” Calimag said.
CEZA’s tourism promotions also come with environmental consciousness and responsibility, she added.
“We also regularly initiate and participate in beach clean-ups, clam seeding programs, ocean drives, tree and mangrove-planting programs,” Calimag said.