BFAR asks new admin: Continue our livelihood, aquaculture efforts

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Wednesday said that it expects the next administration to prioritize its livelihood program and aquaculture development efforts.

“Nandyan yung aming layunin na ipagpatuloy yung iba't-ibang livelihood development program para sa ating fishery sector,” BFAR chief information officer Nazzer Briguera said at the Laging Handa briefing.

(We wish the next administration would continue the different livelihood development programs for our fishery sector.)

He added that the next administration should also invest in aquaculture development and strengthen the capacity of small fisheries.

“Ito po yung mga programa na nais natin ipagpatuloy at tayo ay umaasa ito rin po ang magiging prayoridad ng bagong administrasyon,” he said

(These are the programs that we want to be continued and we are hoping that will be prioritized by the new administration.)

Recently, the BFAR launched a program to raise the economic status of Filipino fisherfolk by teaching them financial management.

Some 25,000 fisherfolk nationwide are expected to benefit from the program this year.

“Despite the country’s rich fisheries and aquatic resources, many belonging to the fisherfolk sector are economically challenged,” BFAR National Director Eduardo Gongona said in a statement on May 24.

“That is why we continue to implement programs and projects like this to alleviate poverty in the fisheries sector,” he added. —LBG, GMA News