ITBAYAT, April 5, 2024 – The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) successfully completed the distribution of Food Production and Livelihood project interventions under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase 2 to two (2) Fisherfolk Associations (FAs) in Itbayat, Batanes on April 4, 2024. The recipients of these interventions were the Itbayat Agricultural Cooperative (ITaCo) and Yawran Farmers and Fishermen Association (YFFA). Each FA was provided with two (2) units of fish cages, as well as tilapia fingerlings and feeds.
The event, which also featured the inauguration and blessing of the Bureau’s Provincial Fisheries Satellite Office (PFO) first Tilapia Hatchery, was spearheaded by Atty. Demosthenes Escoto, the National Director of DA-BFAR; along with BFAR-Cagayan Valley Regional Director Dr. Angel B. Encarnacion, CESO V; Congressman Ciriaco B. Gato, Jr.; Elymi Ar-J Tuñacao, Chief of DA-BFAR’s Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (IFAD) and BFAR-SAAD National Focal Person; Ritchie Rivera, Provincial Fisheries Officer; and representatives from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Itbayat.