MAHINOG, CAMIGUIN – In an effort to enhance the skills of local fisherfolk and improve the competitiveness of their fishery products, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 10 (BFAR-10), through its Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase 2, facilitated a four-day training on food safety and product development from June 24 to 27 in this municipality.

The four fisherfolk associations (FAs) in Camiguin engaged in aquaculture projects—namely, the Sagay Inland Fish Grower Association (SIFGA), Tangaro Freshwater Fish Raiser Association (TFWFRA), Benoni Fisherfolk Association (BFA), and United Fisherfolk Organization of Cantaan (UFOC)—were capacitated through sessions conducted by resource speakers from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Topics included safe fish handling, post-harvest practices, proper sanitation, packaging and labeling, and intellectual property—aimed at aligning their products with market-ready standards.

The training also raised awareness and deepened understanding of food safety issues under Republic Act No. 10611, or the Food Safety Act of 2013, which strengthens the national food safety regulatory system by protecting consumers’ health and facilitating market access for locally-produced food products.

According to BFAR-10 Provincial Fishery Officer Vianney Anthony A. Gapuz, the training forms part of the bureau’s continuing efforts under the SAAD Program’s Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development (MAED) component. It is designed to help ensure the safety and quality of the beneficiaries’ fishery products as they move toward post-harvest processing and value addition.

Beyond technical instruction, the initiative also seeks to empower fisherfolk associations by equipping them with essential knowledge and entrepreneurial competencies needed to produce value-added products that meet food safety regulations and respond to market demands.

Through capacity-building activities such as this, BFAR-10 SAAD program reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the long-term sustainability of fisherfolk livelihoods in Camiguin—promoting safe, high-quality, and market-ready fishery products that can thrive in both local and broader markets.