by Rollin Dave Elloren

TAGOLOAN, Lanao del Norte (Oct. 30) – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 10 under the leadership of Regional Director Edward B. Yasay, joins the  Bagong Pilipinas Information and Serbisyo Caravan in Barangay Kiazar, this town. 

Spearheaded by the Philippine Information Authority (PIA), the event gathered various government agencies to provide information and assistance directly to local residents which aims to make government programs and services more accessible to communities that have previously been underserved.

Moreover, the initiative also serves as a platform for addressing the specific needs and concerns of the community, fostering a direct engagement between citizens and government representatives.

Highlighting the Bureau’s commitment, Alternate LDN Provincial Fishery Officer Al Jun B. Magamano distributed around 72,000 tilapia fingerlings as part of BFAR 10’s Inland Development Program. 

According to Magamano, the program is designed to enhance local aquaculture and promote sustainable fishing practices in the inland areas, providing residents with a valuable resource for food security and livelihood.

He further stressed that BFAR continuously provides free tilapia fingerlings to individuals with fishponds and also conducts training on aquaculture, as well as post-harvest/fish processing, such as tilapia siomai, fish balls, longganisa, and other products, which can serve as additional livelihood opportunities for the fisherfolk in Tagoloan.

Meanwhile, Noroden D. Untong, a resident of Barangay Kiazar, expressed his gratitude for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of having government support readily available within their reach. 

Nagapasalamat gyud ko ug dako sa mga ahensya nga miabot dinhi sa among lugar. Daghan gyud ko ug mga nahibal-an mahitungod sa mga programa ug serbisyo nga ilang gina-panghatag. Isa na niini ang BFAR, diin naka-dawat ko ug usa ka libo nga tilapia fingerlings nga timing kaayo nga gikinahanglan nako karon para masudlan ang akong upat ka bakante nga fishponds.”

[I am truly grateful to the agencies that visited our area, as I learned a lot about the programs and services they offer. One of these agencies, BFAR, provided me with one thousand tilapia fingerlings, which is very timely as I need the inputs to stock my four empty fishponds.] 

The caravan concluded with participants leaving with a sense of empowerment and renewed hope for ongoing government engagement in their community. (RDE//BFAR-10)