Catbalogan pushes change in farming, fishing concepts

CATBALOGAN CITY, Aug. 3 (PNA) -– The city government is pushing for change in the concept of traditional farming and fishing activities for locals here.

The concept aims to transform idle farmland to commercial farms and fish hunting to fish farming.

The city presented this plan to Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Diño last week.

This was also one of the projects presented by Catbalogan City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan in his State of the City Address on Monday.

The commercial farming will transform around 10,500 hectares of idle agricultural land of the city into a productive areas, providing higher income to both land owners and laborers.The concept of land reconsolidation was implemented in the past three years, looking for private investors for an industry that will turn the land into an income and job-generating area.

“Most of the vast land in the city are neglected if not idle that is why it’s about time that we consolidate them and look for better investment, which I strongly urge be done through public-private partnership,” Uy-Tan said.

“Through land consolidation, income is faster and we can assure that they will earn more.”

In terms of fish farming, there’s an ongoing partnership with International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) in the city’s Irong-irong Bay.

This project started January of this year through enhancing danggit (rabbitfish) farming by constructing fish pens to culture these fish.

Fishermen will go through an apprenticeship for four months to learn fish farming.

Upon completion, they will avail loan, which is payable on installment basis every harvest. After full payment, recipients will own their fish cages.

The project, according to the mayor, will not only help ensure the dramatic revival of marine life, but will also bring higher income to fishermen especially that fuel cost will be significantly reduced.

Along with this program is the goal of the city government to make the city a live fish market supplying seafood in other parts of the country and even overseas. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR