The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) turned over a lambaklad project to a fisherfolk association during a ceremony in Jagna, Bohol on November 27, 2021.
Led by BFAR National Director Commodore Eduardo Gongona, BFAR region 7 Director Allan Poquita, and Bohol Provincial Director Candido Samijon, the bureau awarded the lambaklad project to the Jagna Alejawan Fisherfolks Association (JAFA) represented by its president, Edgardo Raymundo.
With the successful installation of the lambaklad in the province, Director Gongona is optimistic that Bohol will continue to contribute to the Department of Agriculture’s goal of sustainably increasing the country’s fish production while improving fisherfolk income, a key strategy under Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar’s OneDA approach.
“Kailangan nating magdagdag ng produksyon ng isda dito… para kayo ay mabigyan muna ng sariling pagkain and then pakainin niyo rin ang karatig-pook niyo or even the national or you can even export at susuportahan po kayo ng national government through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,” he said in a speech.
The installation of the lambaklad in Jagna, Bohol took only a month from October 20 to November 18. Since then, the fish production in the municipality has increased with an average of 250 kilograms in four days.
“Mula ngayon na nag-ano [nangisda] na kami sa lambaklad… malaking tulong sa amin yun. Dito sa amin sa Bohol, mahal ang isda… pero ngayon na mayroon ng lambaklad marami ng baryo ang pumunta dito kasi nakakabenepisyo sila”, JAFA President Raymundo said.
Aside from their daily fish catch, members of JAFA was able to build a nipa hut, through their collective profits, where they store their catch and prepare the fish for post-harvesting. The nipa hut also functions as a resting and meeting place for the fisherfolk.
The lambaklad project in Jagna is the first of 15 units of lambaklad planned to be installed as part of the bureau’s 2020 budget. Another lambaklad project in San Jose, Mindoro was installed during the first week of December. Meanwhile, units of lambaklad in Morong, Bataan and Siocon, Davao de Oro are under construction.
Lambaklad is a sustainable Japanese fishing technology adapted in the Philippines. It is an environment-friendly fishing gear that catches fish through allurement. The structure of the lambaklad guides fish to swim towards the net and ends up in a bag or cod-end.
A ceremonial catching of fish led by members of JAFA and attended by BFAR officials and a blessing of boats were conducted after the turnover ceremony.
