by Rollin Dave Elloren

MAHINOG, Camiguin (March 13) – As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the economic conditions of its beneficiaries, the Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – 10 (BFAR-10) concluded the rollout of the Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development (MAED) component under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase 2 in Camiguin.

The activity aimed to equip the Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO) with the knowledge and skills on data gathering, mapping existing and potential markets using Geographic Information System (GIS) applications, as well as data processing and report generation through the use of the MAED enterprise profitability assessment tool.

Additionally, the introduction of the MAED component in the province strengthens and supports the development of previously implemented viable livelihood projects that may qualify to be raised to the level of community-based enterprises (CBE).

Among the five assisted associations, the Benoni Fisherfolk Association (BFA) was selected as the pilot group to undergo a profitability assessment and market mapping.

Founded in 2009, BFA initially relied on net fishing as its primary source of income for some of its members. However, in 2023, the association became a beneficiary of the SAAD program and received support through the Green Mussel Production and Polyculture of High-Value Species project. 

As outlined in the five-year financial and operational projection, the data has shown positive results, with their project expected to yield a 25% return on investment and an estimated revenue of P2.4 million by the end of the program in 2028.

Building on these results, BFAR-10 SAAD is confident that the group is now poised to stand on its own as one of the program’s key objectives to uplift and transform their outlook on the fishing industry, empowering them to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset through the CBE.

At the end of this 3-day activity, the RPMSO staff will proceed with the rollout for the remaining beneficiaries in the province, evaluating the profitability of their enterprises to ensure continued progress and sustainability.