OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental (PIA)--The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-10 launched the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Phase 2 Program for Misamis Occidental at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Sports and Cultural Center, Capitol Ground, June 20.
This program will benefit fisherfolk beneficiaries from the 5th class municipalities; the Hugpong sa mga Mananagat sa Caluya in Sapang Dalaga, Baliangao Fisherfolk Association, Panaon Fisherfolk Association, and Cagay-anon Fisherfolk Association in Sinacaban.
On the other hand, Concepcion Fisherfolk and Farmer, Baybay Fisherfolk Integrated Association in Bonifacio, and Don Victoriano Growers Association belong to the 6th class municipalities.
BFAR-10 Regional Director Edward Yasay said SAAD is a program that will provide livelihood intervention and capability building or training to fisher folks who belong to the 5th and 6th class municipalities in the province.
"Ang pinakanindot nga feature sa SAAD, ato gyud ginahugpong ang atong mga mananagat nga mahimo silang enterprising kay mas maayo man gud nga ang intervention nato sa BFAR nga sa grupo kaysa individual mas naa siya'y impact. Ato silang gi-organize into association and hopefully and eventually mahimo silang enterprise in an organization like mga cooperative," he shared.
(The most beautiful feature of the SAAD is that we are grouping our fishermen so that they can become enterprising because it is better that our intervention in BFAR has more impact on the group than on an individual. We are organizing them into associations, and hopefully, eventually, they can become enterprises in organizations like cooperatives)
Yasay is also grateful to the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental, which has been very supportive of the BFAR program.
"Nalipay mi nga katong mga identified beneficiaries adunay dugang tabang nga nadawat gikan sa provincial government pinaagi ni Governor Henry Oaminal. Kami naghinaot nga kung kamo magmalampuson, ato pang mas madungagan ang mga project interventions sa BFAR kay dili lang kita diri mahuman but kita magpadayon," he added.
(We are happy that those identified beneficiaries have received more assistance from the provincial government through Governor Henry Oaminal. We hope that if you [fisherfolk] are successful, we will increase the project interventions of BFAR because we will not stop here, we will continue our programs)
Meanwhile, Oaminal emphasized that the programs of the government will surely be coordinated to ensure the progress of the beneficiaries in the province.
"Ato gyud gipiho nga ang programa sa national government nga moabot diri, ma-closely coordinated sa atong mga local executives kay gusto nato nga ang maong programa madapat ug makahatag gyud og impact sa kalamboan sa mga beneficiaries," he said.
(We really tried to have the programs of the national government implemented here, that they would be closely coordinated with our local executives because we wanted the programs to be given appropriately and have an impact on the development of the beneficiaries)
The SAAD Program Phase 2 aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty through the provision of agricultural and fishery interventions to the poor fishing sector by improving food production, household consumption, and commercial purposes in areas of operation and assisting the beneficiaries in establishing community-based fishery enterprises. (SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)
