QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) assures its fisheries clients, particularly, fish producers and the consumers of unhampered and sufficient supply of fishery commodities following the recent declaration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to put the National Capital Region under Enhanced Community Quarantine and other areas under Modified Enhance Community Quarantine from August 6 to August 20, 2021 due to COVID-19 Delta variant.

Following Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s pronouncement on the DA’s guidelines regarding facilitation of the transport and delivery of food and agri-fishery commodities, the DA-BFAR has directed its workforce to streamline the issuance of food pass and make the process more efficient and accessible to fish producers and suppliers. DA-BFAR will issue new ones to those without food passes through one of its technical divisions, the Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Division. Stakeholders who wish to apply for food passes may do so through this communication line:

Hotline: 09363213401

Email: fiqd.ltpfoodpass@gmail.com

For owners of food passes or IATF IDs previously issued by the DA, the DA guidelines indicated that these are valid and can still be used to transport food and agri-fishery commodities to markets in the NCR and other areas. DA has also reminded those who are transporting agri-fisheries products to always bring their food pass or IATF ID.

DA-BFAR is mobilizing its fishery law enforcers on the ground with a directive to coordinate with other concerned government agencies in ensuring the smooth implementation of food pass.

Meanwhile, aside from wet markets, residents from the NCR and other areas may also choose to buy fresh and frozen fish commodities and other fishery products from the DA’s KADIWA stalls, in which the DA-BFAR participates through its Fisheries Industry Development Support and Services Division, in partnership with the local government units and the private sector.

For those who want to avail of relevant services of the DA-BFAR during the ECQ period, the agency encourages fisheries stakeholders in Metro Manila and other areas to transact online while the restrictions are in place. Clients may visit DA-BFAR’s official website and facebook page for more information.  (DA-BFAR)