CEBU CITY, Cebu, Sept.7 (PIA) -- Project partners from the business membership organizations (BMOs), local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas, and various national government agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation to strengthen their partnership and signify the collaboration between the stakeholders for the implementation of the second phase of the Fostering Inclusive & Sustainable Habitats (FISH) Visayas Project. 

The MOU signing was led by AFOS key officials: Ana Maria Puyalto Pardina, acting CEO; Norbert Weiss, project management advisor; and Yvette Hope Labus, project manager and Philippine resident representative.

The officials who signed the MOU who are part of the BMOs were: Charles Kenneth Co, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI); Dominic Butalid, president of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI); Arthur Chan, president of the Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCII); and Lito Maderazo, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bantayan Island Chapter (CCCI-BIC).

Officials from the national government agencies who were also part of the MOU signing were Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7 Regional Director Allan Poquita, Department of Science and Technology 7 Regional Director Engr. Jesus Zamora Jr., and Department of Trade and Industry 7 Regional Director Maria Elena Arbon.

The LGU project partners represented by their respective local chief executives who were present during the MOA signing were: Bantayan, Cebu Mayor Arthur Despi; Cordova, Cebu Mayor Cesar Suan; Tagbilaran City, Bohol Mayor Jane Yap; Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol Mayor Fernando Estavilla; Alburquerque, Bohol Mayor Don Ritchie Buates; Ubay, Bohol Mayor Constantino Reyes; La Libertad, Negros Oriental Mayor Emmanuela Laurence Iway; Siquijor, Siquijor Mayor Richard Quezon; and San Juan, Siquijor Mayor Wilfredo Capundag Jr.

Aside from the MOA signing, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the AFOS Foundation also signed a partnership agreement for the conduct of the second phase of the FISH Visayas Project.

"Much has yet to be done in order to bring the fisheries sector in Central Visayas to greater heights, and one of our stepping stones would be the very strong synergy and partnership offered by the FISH Visayas Project and the application of interventions and support to capacitate our chambers and sectoral associations in strengthening its role in transforming the fisheries sector into an improved and sustainable industry," said Charles Kenneth Co, president of CCCI, during the said event.

The AFOS foundation also recognized the vital role of its project partners in achieving the goal of the said project.

"It is very important that we are working closely with our partners in order to make our project more sustainable and to fulfill the principle of capacity development through the help of our BMOs, LGUs, NGAs, and other stakeholders," said Norbert Weiss, project management advisor of AFOS.

The FISH Visayas Project’s goal is to provide improvement and sustainability in the income of fishing-dependent families as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the fishing sector.

The second phase of the project began in July 2022 and will end in June 2025 with nine LGUs in Central Visayas as project areas: the municipalities of Bantayan and Cordova in Cebu; Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Ubay, Alburquerque, and City of Tagbilaran in Bohol; San Juan and Siquijor in Siquijor; and La Libertad in Negros Oriental.

The project’s second phase also targets to achieve its goals and objectives through four expected results: training for fishermen and MSMEs, dual training in the fisheries sector, market access, and resource protection.

Its partners and target groups include BMOs, small-scale fishermen and MSMEs, manufacturing companies, local government units, and other companies in the fisheries sector. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)