Press Release
Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Regional Office No. 5
San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur 4418
Email: region5@bfar.da.gov.ph
Website: www.bfar.da.gov.ph
Telefax: (054) 361-2326

BFAR- 5 Director Holds Fisherfolk Immersion in Camarines Norte

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR) - Bicol Regional Director Dennis del Socorro embarked on a community immersion and fisherfolk dialogue in three coastal municipalities of Camarines Norte on May 27-28, 2013 as his counterpart function during the the month-long celebration of the Fisherfolk Director’s Program.

In a swapping of functions, Mangingisdang Direktor Ely Ramos of Paracale, Camarines Norte reported to the BFAR regional direcor’s office while Director del Socorro engaged with the fisherfolk in coastal communities.

The community visitation was an effective way for Director del Socorro to asses the fisherfolk’s situation and know their problems at the same time respond to their needs the fastest way possible.

The first stop was at Barangay Basiad, Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte where the Director talked to a leader of a fisherfolk organization named,“Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda” and committed 500 to 1,000 kgs. of seaweed seedlings after seeing that there is a great potential for the coastal barangay to be a seaweed-producing area.

Director del Socorroalso visited the town of Jose Panganiban, accompanied by the LGU Agicultural Technician on Fisheries. He inspected a BFAR-awarded municipal fish hatchery facility located in Brgy. Parang. The facilities are composed of 4 filters,10 plastics tanks and 6 concrete tanks forspawning and grow-out purposes. The facility is not yet operational and is undergoing structure polishing.

It was followed by a visit to a fishing community in the same barangay. Director del Socorro had a meeting with the fisherfolk. Most of the concerns that was brought up is the rampant intrusion of commercial fishing vessels in the municipal waters which contributes to decreasing fish catch. In response, Director del Socorro promisedto deploy the BFAR Quick Response Team (QRT) to the area. He also promised to give them gillnets (sapyaw)on the condition that they will be united in protecting and conserving their 15-kilometer municipal waters.

The final stop was in Sitio Sabang in Brgy. Camagsaan, Capalonga, Camarines Norte at an on-going BFAR seminar on seaweed farming. The participating fisherfolk said that their area was once a seaweed producing area but due to successive calamities and lack of technical expertise on seaweed farming, the production decreased to the point where the community stopped growing seaweeds. For his part, Director del Socorro agreed to help them grow seaweeds again by providing them technical assistance, input materials and seaweed seedlings. If their community becomes a legitimate seaweed-producing area, BFAR shall provide a solar dryer and will send trucks to get their harvest and take it directly to the processing plant. He also promised to award an aquasilvicuture facility to propagate mudcrab within the vast mangroves present in the barangay.

In his mesage, he said that: “Ang kailangan natin ay puso,walang kwenta ang ibibigay ko sainyo kung wala tayong puso”(All we need is heart, the things that I will give you are worthless if we don’t have a heart) – calling for a collective effort and sincerity on the part of the fisherfolk to achieve their goals.

Morever, Director del Socorro raffled five motor engines with a counterpart banca from the Local Government Unit of Capalonga.(ajoven/rcanabe)

BFAR DIRECTOR MEETS FISHERFOLK OF CAPALONGA. BFAR-Bicol Regional Director Dennis V. del Socorro (seated in the middle row, first from left) is flanked by the fisherfolk of Sitio Sabang, Brgy. Camagsaan, Capalonga, Camarines Norte during their Hands–On Training on Seaweed Farming. -Photos by Andrew Joven