By Jev Jev L. Maestre

MAHINOG, Camiguin (March 27) – The Northern Mindanao Regional Federated Fisherfolk Association (NORMIRFFA) during its CY2025 1st Quarter meeting held at the Provincial Fisheries Office in Mahinog, Camiguin on March 27, 2025 elected this year’s Regional Fisherfolk Director (RFD) and the National Fisherfolk Director (NFD) nominee.

Mr. Rolando A. Escarpe, Cagayan de Oro City District 1 fisherfolk representative, was officially elected as the Regional Fisherfolk Director of BFAR-X. He is set to engage in the region’s various activities during the month-long celebration of the CY2025 Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month (FFM). His immersion is expected to enhance fisherfolk representation in policy-making and contribute to the overall development of the fisheries sector in Northern Mindanao.  Additionally, this initiative is aimed to provide a glimpse and insights of BFAR’s day-to-day operations for the fisherfolk leader’s better appreciation on how the Bureau implements its programs, projects and activities.

The members also nominated Mr. Dominador P. Comeda, Jr., Chairperson of the Iligan City-Lanao del Norte Provincial Fisherfolk Association, as Region X’s NFD nominee. He will vie for the position to represent fisheries sector on a national scale and shall be responsible for advocating for policies, overseeing programs, and ensuring inclusive development for fisheries. 

During the meeting, Camiguin Provincial Fishery Officer Vianney Anthony Gapuz, in his message, welcomed the group and emphasized the importance of fisherfolk leaders’ role to effectively communicate to their members the directions of the bureau to be able to come up with relevant proposals in line with the Bureau’s plans and programs.

“This year, especially for FishCoRe provinces, the challenge for our fisherfolk leaders is to guide and lead its members to come up with the needed livelihood proposals as our fisherfolk will be affected by stringent fisheries regulations. The fisherfolk leaders are expected to focus to help explain the new directions of BFAR which are fisheries resources rehabilitation and sustainability,” Gapuz encouraged.

Being the recognized regional fisherfolk group, NORMIRFFA, composed of the five federated provincial fisherfolk associations, holds quarterly meetings to update the status of BFAR-10 project interventions, discuss key issues affecting the fisherfolk and plan future initiatives aimed at improving the fisherfolk’s socio-economic conditions.

Afterwards, the group was taken into an on-field tour of the province’s technology outreach stations in Benoni and Sagay to give them an overview of its day-to-day operations and its important role in the overall fishery production of the bureau.

BFAR-10 remains committed to empowering fisherfolk and promoting the sustainable management of aquatic resources in the region through its unwavering support to the fisherfolk associations.