By Rollin Dave Elloren

MACABALAN, Cagayan de Oro City — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Region 10 (BFAR-10), under the leadership of Regional Director Edward B. Yasay concluded its series of workshops on the Cascading of FY 2026 Target Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs) to Local Government Units (LGUs), alongside a provincial consultation for the FY 2027 proposed projects, on November 5-6, 2025. 

The last leg of the activity was conducted in Medina, Misamis Oriental on November 5 for Misamis Oriental District 1 and on November 6 for District 2 at the BFAR-10 Conference Hall. The sessions brought together BFAR-10 officials, personnel from municipal and city agriculture offices, and Fisheries Extension Workers in Misamis Oriental to strengthen collaboration and ensure the effective implementation of fisheries programs across the province.

In his opening remarks, Vianney Anthony Gapuz, Chief of the Fisheries Production and Support Services Division (FPSSD), emphasized the importance of the activity in ensuring that fisheries programs are properly aligned and effectively reach their beneficiaries.

“Every year, BFAR, together with the Department of Agriculture, conducts this cascading of projects to LGUs. This ensures that, despite a relatively smaller budget compared to other agencies, our programs are properly implemented that truly benefit our fisherfolk,” he said.

Gapuz also highlighted the role of LGUs in prioritizing proposed projects. “For example, if we provide fish cages, these should be allocated to areas that genuinely need them and have the capacity for sustainable growth,” he added.

The workshop also served as a venue to discuss FY 2027 proposals. While FY 2026 projects may only require minor adjustments, Gapuz noted that BFAR is now focusing on offshore aquaculture, transitioning from coastal areas to offshore production zones. For landlocked municipalities such as those in Bukidnon and parts of Misamis Occidental, freshwater aquaculture projects will continue to be implemented, especially in areas with good water sources and rice-based systems.

Gapuz further shared that BFAR-10 is preparing the Aquaculture Development and Management Plan (ADMP) for Fisheries Management Area 9 (FMA-9). While bangus culture remains a priority, the Bureau is diversifying into other commodities such as seaweeds, tilapia, and prawns to broaden livelihood opportunities and improve market potential. “We hope that each commodity we promote will have a viable market, making diversification sustainable and beneficial to our fisherfolk,” he concluded.

During the activity, personnel from FPSSD presented the regional production performance covering aquaculture, commercial, and municipal fisheries from 2021 to 2025, based on Philippine Statistics Authority data and consolidated reports. Discussions also highlighted the fisheries industry’s current status and key directions for 2026–2027. Among the issues identified were the need for alternative protein sources in aquaculture feeds, the availability of quality seed stocks, climate-resilient practices, and market-driven interventions.

In response, BFAR underscored priorities such as diversifying into high-value aquaculture species including grouper, seabass, crabs, and shellfish; revitalizing seaweed farming through the establishment of a Seaweed Culture Laboratory and the expansion of nurseries in coastal municipalities; rehabilitating critical habitats such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs while intensifying enforcement against illegal fishing; pursuing research on feed alternatives such as azolla and duckweed to reduce reliance on costly fish meal; and strengthening aquaculture policies to prevent over-intensification and disease outbreaks.

The activity also addressed the mandate and services of the Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Unit (FIQU) in ensuring the safe movement of aquatic products in Misamis Oriental.
A Training Needs Assessment (TNA) was conducted to identify capacity gaps and strengthen the competencies of LGUs in implementing fisheries programs.

During the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), participants were guided through discussions on their current fisheries programs, operational challenges, and specific areas where additional training is needed—such as regulatory enforcement, aquaculture, municipal fisheries management, post-harvest practices, and livelihood development.

The sessions also explored technical gaps related to law enforcement, priority commodities for development, institutional challenges, gender-specific training needs, and recommendations on how BFAR can further support capacity building through preferred training modalities.

In his closing message, Dr. Noel M. Saldajeno, Chief of the Regional Fisheries Training and Fisherfolk Coordination Division (RFTFCD), assured stakeholders of BFAR-10’s full support and close coordination with LGUs, emphasizing that the regional office remains accessible and responsive to their concerns.

The session concluded with expressions of gratitude to all participants, with next steps focused on consolidating proposals and strengthening collaborative efforts to align local projects with regional and national fisheries development priorities across the region.