“Let’s make our community better by providing food to nourish our children”.
These were the words of BFAR-CAR Regional Director Lois June B. Fermin, during the turnover of the two units of Fish Mart projects to the cooperative and the fisherfolk association beneficiaries, recently.
In a bid to strengthen food security and uplift local livelihoods, RD Fermin further emphasized the project’s role in improving the lives of fisherfolk and their communities, while also highlighting its potential to combat hunger and reduce poverty across the region.
The Fish Mart Projects were awarded to the Mangali Irisan Residents Association (MIRA) and the Lingey Saranay Consumers Cooperative (LSCC) in a ceremony held at the Provincial Fisheries Office of Abra, and another to MIRA during an awarding event at the BFAR-CAR Regional Office.
Each Fish Mart package includes one (1) chest freezer, one (1) digital weighing scale, three (3) styro boxes, and eighty (80) kilograms of marketable fish to help jumpstart the beneficiaries’ livelihood operations.
The initiative aims to empower fisherfolk by providing post-harvest facilities in areas without existing fish markets in the Cordillera region. The Fish Mart Project is designed to establish a sustainable marketing network, ensuring the continuous and affordable distribution of fish and other fishery products.
Marx Perfecto C. Garcia, Chief of the Fisheries Production Support and Services Division (FPSSD), shared insights from a national perspective, stressing the importance of fisheries in achieving food security. “It’s not just about having enough food, it’s about ensuring consistent, affordable, and nutritious access for everyone,” he noted.
Benguet Provincial Fisheries Officer Lorence Ognasi acknowledged the collaborative efforts with the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Baguio City, underscoring the importance of unity in implementing government programs for the welfare of prioritized beneficiaries.
The ceremony was also graced by representatives from the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) and the PNP, who offered words of encouragement to the fisherfolk beneficiaries.
In response, both MIRA and LSCC expressed their heartfelt gratitude to BFAR and its partner agencies for the livelihood support. They also committed to responsibly managing the resources provided and contributing to the region’s food sustainability as dedicated fisherfolk.
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