Villa Flora M. Rosos

Cagayan de Oro City (May 30) — Fisherfolk leaders, Local Government Unit (LGU) representatives, District Fishery Technicians, and key stakeholders from the five provinces of Region 10 gathered for the 1st Northern Mindanao Fisherfolk Forum and Workshop on Training Needs Assessment from May 29-30, this city.

Spearheaded by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 10 (BFAR-10), through its Regional Fisheries Training and Fisherfolk Coordination Division (RFTFCD), the forum served as a strategic venue to appreciate the value, roles and responsibilities the Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Councils (FARMCs) as a fisheries recommendatory body at the local levels and as enablers in local fisheries law enforcement. Additionally, it was aimed to gather relevant issues and concerns which are crucial in the identification of appropriate intervention ensuring fisheries resilience and sustainability.

The resource speaker, Noemi SB Lanzuela, D.F.Tech, Regional Director of BFAR NCR and Co-Chair of the FARMC National Technical Working Group (NTWG), who discussed fisherfolk empowerment and strategies for council development, emphasized that empowering fisherfolk is not just an option but a cornerstone of sustainable fisheries development. By enhancing their capacities through inclusive governance, access to training and resources, and participatory decision-making, communities become more resilient and better equipped to manage their marine and inland fisheries resources.

Echoing this thought, BFAR-10 Regional Director Edward B. Yasay reminded participants of the importance of accountability in governance. “We need to appreciate the extent of our capabilities, authority, and responsibilities so that our suggestions are in line with the laws we are promoting and implementing,” he stated, urging attendees to align advocacy with legal mandates.

The workshop featured technical lectures and knowledge-sharing sessions, including the inspiring story of Rafael M. Villezas of Junsan Farm, Bukidnon. His success in tilapia grow-out farming in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon demonstrated how innovation and perseverance can transform small-scale aquaculture into a sustainable livelihood.

Another important component of the event was the Beneficiaries Needs Assessment (BNA) Workshop facilitated by Mariane Joy M. Abiog, OIC-RFTFCD. The participants underwent the process through in depth discussion to profile target beneficiaries and identify appropriate needed intervention for the fisherfolk associations. It was followed by group presentations and critiquing of outputs from coastal and inland fisheries.

Mr. Luther Alison, representing the Misamis Oriental Federated Fisherfolk Association (MISORFFA) presented the output of their province, focusing on capture fisheries. He emphasized how their generation-passed fishing practices support the livelihood of communities that rely heavily on marine fishing and the need for government programs and projects to sustain these livelihoods.

Meanwhile, Mr. Micheal Binauro, representing Bukidnon Federated Fisherfolk Association (BUFFA), presented the output of the group who worked on inland fisheries. With much emphasis on tilapia culture as the main fishing livelihood in the uplands of the province, he underscored how collaboration, training, and local initiatives empower inland fisherfolk and strengthen the region’s fisheries sector through sustainable, community-based practices.

In another session, PDEA-10 personnel Vanessa A. Garcia and Djamaekha A. Jaylo, in their topic, “Roles of Fisherfolk in the Fight Against Illegal Drugs”, stressed that the fisherfolk can serve as valuable partners in the mission to curtail illegal substances considering their strategic position as frontliners in coastal and rural communities. They also play as important links in monitoring and reporting suspicious activities related to drug abuse and illegal drug use.

The forum succeeded in its objectives to proactively inform and synergize the key players in the formulation of local fisheries policies, identify and recommend measures to address region-specific challenges in the fisheries sector. The participants also expressed gratitude to BFAR-10 for the initiative and look forward to the same gathering next year.