Bureau Of Fisheries And Aquatic Resources

DA-BFAR Honors Fisherfolks

Ka Zardo Lim elected 2009 national mangingisdang director

In a novel way to honor the fisherfolks, the DA-BFAR installed 17 fisherfolk leaders to run its national and regional offices and act as national fisherfolk director and regional fisheries directors for the whole month of May.
Elected by fisherfolk leaders as this year's national fisherfolk director is Felizardo Lim from Cavite. He headed 16 other fisherfolk leaders, 3 of them women, who were likewise chosen by their constituents in their respective regions.

The regional fisherfolk directors are: Joel E. Parurug (CAR); Benjamin A. Cabacungan (Reg 1); Lupo B. Alava (Reg 2); Salvacion F. Ruiz (Reg 3); Edison Y. Jaramillo (Reg 4A); Charles M. Ramal (Reg 4B); Marco c. Visperas (Reg 5); Maximo S. Salavante (Reg 6); Juanito U. Obispo (Reg 7); Quinciano s. Galagar (Reg 8); Salud B. Cruz (Reg 9); Decie T. Bazar (Reg 10); Natividad C. Gunayan (Reg 11); Eduardo M. Casas (Reg 12); Isidro P. Pamonag (Reg 13); and Ustadz Jamad Z. Hairol (ARMM).

The fisherfolk leaders took their oath during the opening ceremony of the 1st National Fisherfolk Technology and Livelihood Festival (FISH for LIFE) held in Cagayan de Oro City last May 4-6, this year. Officiating their oath is Dr. Gina Yap, Vice- President for Social Development of the Asian Social Institute. Misamis Occidental Governor Oscar Moreno, BFAR National Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr., BFAR Asst. Dir. Gil Adora and NAPC-Artisanal Fisherfolk Rep. and PAMPANO Pres. Rogelio Amatorio, Jr. witnessed the ceremony.

The "Maningisdang Direktor" program, now on its fifth year of implementation, provides fisherfolk the opportunity to understand the bureaucracy and at the same time gives them hands-on-training and experience in running the agency.

The merry month of May is officially designated as Fisherfolk month in recognition of the very important roles played by fisherfolks in providing foods on our tables as well as in generating livelihoods to more than 1.6 million Filipinos who are involved either in fish capture, fish farming and fish processing.

Ka Zardo Lim said that he would continue to support the conservation and protection of the fisheries and aquatic resources as his one-month stint would focus on law enforcement.

"After years and years of taking fish and other delectable aquatic creatures from the sea, we realized that it is time to give back to nature by planting mangrove trees along the country's coastal areas nationwide", he said.

"Puno Ko, Sagip-buhay Mo" is the fisherfolk's way of saying that if we would want our coastal areas to provide us on a sustainable basis all the blessings that it had been providing us, more importantly, the safe refuge from the adverse effects of climate change, than every responsible being must do their share to plant a mangrove propagule or a tree sapling not on any other day but now and to continue the efforts throughout their lifetime, he said.

The first week of May is also declared by the Arroyo administration as the Ornamental Fish Week