SAGAY, Camiguin (PIA)--In alleviating poverty through the provision of agriculture and fishery livelihood interventions, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-10 Camiguin Provincial Office held the SAAD (Special Area for Agricultural Development) Needs Assessment and Profiling of 15 tilapia growers in Alangilan, Sagay, here, May 9.

"Basically, mag-identify ang project og for the first year og usa ka beneficiciary depende kung unsa’y gi-propose sa LGU tapos idevelop na into community enterprise," said Benoni Fisheries Office Senior Aquaculturist Vianney Anthony Gapuz.

(Basically, the project will identify a beneficiary for the first year depending on what the LGU proposes, and then it will be developed into a community enterprise)

For Sagay, Gapuz said the community proposed the tilapia production during the social preparation, March 28, 2023.

The social preparation component of SAAD involved the conduct of profiling activities for data gathering and transparency, identifying agriculture or fishery-related needs, including possible risks, issues, and concerns, organizing beneficiaries, and performing capability enhancement trainings.

Since Sagay has just started tilapia production, Gapuz said the association will have the contact growing at first so the stakeholders will know if such a project is really feasible in the area. 

The newly-elected officers of Sagay Inland Fisher Growers Association include Mario Bonachita as president; Ariel Kho, vice president; Mitchelle June Cubelo, secretary; Arturo Fuentez, treasurer; Junnie Rementizo, and Emerito Edquilla, public relations officer. 

Gapuz said the creation of a fisherfolk association is important, especially in receiving interventions from the government. "Usa ra ang ilang direction dili magbulag-bulag. Gagmay ra man ang mga fishpond diri so para ang market volume ma-achieve gyud kay kung magdungan sila og harvest, mas tsada ang market," he added.

(Their direction is one; they don't separate. The fishponds here are small; thus, the market volume can really be achieved because if they harvest together, the market will be better)

Other proposed livelihood projects in the province include green mussel or high-value species polyculture in Tanguines Lagoon, Mahinog; an improved fishing system- Payao Fisheries for LGU Catarman Fisherfolk Youth; and community-based sea cucumber production in Guinsiliban.

The term "SAAD" was derived from a Visayan term that means "promise." It is a locally funded project to be implemented for six years, focusing on 30 of the poorest provinces in the country. In Camiguin, it is implemented in Catarman, Guinsiliban, Mahinog, and Sagay. (RTP/PIA-10/Camiguin)