By Amor Ledon T. Bajarla

MACABALAN, Cagayan de Oro City (May 16, 2025) – To advance the goals of the Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project, the Fisheries Management Area 9 Coordinating Unit (FCU-10), through its Grant Proposal Review Committee (GPRC), conducted an in-depth review of the proposal of the Mindulao Farmers Agrarian Reform Multipurpose Cooperative (MINFARMCO) in Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental. 

Composed of FCU 10 Modern and Resilient Livelihood (MARLIN) personnel, the GPRC reviewed MINFARMCO’s 49M-worth proposal entitled, “Mariculture Production with Processing Facility and Marketing.” This is under MARLIN’s subcomponent 2.2 focused on aquaculture fisheries and enterprise development. 

The review session was organized in collaboration with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Magsaysay and key partners in facilitating grassroots-level fisheries development. The session focused on the assessment of subproject proposal submitted by MINFARMCO based on the FishCoRe criteria.

The main objective of the review was to ensure a transparent, fair, and effective evaluation process in line with the FishCoRe program’s guiding principles. Proposals were assessed based on their feasibility, sustainability, potential impact, and alignment with the program’s mission to build resilient and inclusive fisheries and aquaculture sectors in coastal communities.

During the review, the GPRC employed a participatory approach, engaging representatives from the LGU and MINFARMCO in constructive discussions to evaluate the technical and financial aspects of the proposed projects. This collaborative model fosters accountability and reinforces local ownership of development initiatives.

FishCoRe MARLIN SC 2.2 is a strategic component of the broader FishCoRe Program, which is designed to enhance market linkages, livelihood opportunities, and institutional capacities among small-scale fishers and aquaculture stakeholders. By investing in community-driven projects, the program aims to reduce poverty, improve food security, and promote environmental stewardship across coastal and inland fisheries areas.

The subproject proposals reviewed covered a range of innovative and community-focused activities, including value chain improvements, aquaculture expansion, and capacity-building for fisherfolk associations. Each proposal was carefully analyzed to ensure that grant funds will be utilized efficiently and in ways that generate long-term benefits for the target beneficiaries.

The successful conduct of the grant proposal review not only reflects the strong inter-agency collaboration between FCU 10, LGU Magsaysay, and MINFARMCO but also underscores the program’s commitment to transparency, equity, and grassroots empowerment.

Moving forward, FCU 10 and its partners remain dedicated to guiding fisherfolk organizations through the next stages of implementation, ensuring that approved projects contribute meaningfully to local economic growth and marine resource sustainability.