Region 8 LGUs urged to make fish landing centers functional

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 5 -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) called on local government units (LGUs) to invest in the operation of community fish landing centers built by the central government in poverty-stricken coastal communities.

BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said in a phone interview Tuesday that only 19 of the 48 completed fish landing centers in Eastern Visayas are operational.

The PHP3-million facility is equipped with tools that will enable fishermen to preserve the quality of their fish and fishery products, which could be sold at a higher price.

Since some centers have been turned over to local government in partnership with empowered fisherfolk group, BFAR urged local governments to invest a working capital for the people’s organization that will run the facility.

“It is high time that local government units invest in our fish landing centers since they will surely earn. For instance, the local government of Catarman, Northern Samar had put up PHP900,000 investment for the operation of the facility and now they’re earning PHP500,000 every year,” Albaladejo said.

A local government can put up an ideal investment for as low as PHP100,000 to operate a landing center, the official said.

“In addition, they have to be innovative in the use of the facility not only for trading but also as postharvest activities,” Albaladejo added.

The fisheries bureau reiterated its call to local governments after observing that some fishermen just display their catch anywhere despite the completion of nearby community fish landing centers.

“If local government units are not interested, our option is to invite the private sector to operate these landing centers. The facilities will also double as venues for skills training on disaster-resilient fisheries-based livelihoods and resource management such as monitoring fish catch and stock assessment,” the official said.

The 19 operational landing centers in the region are in Arteche, Balangkayan, Llorente, Maydolong, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar; Bobon, Catarman, Gamay, Mapanas, Palapag, and Laoang in Northern Samar; Tarangnan, Calbiga, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Zumarraga, and Marabut in Samar; and Cabucgayan in Biliran.

The National Anti- Poverty Commission recommended recipient areas based on poverty incidence, municipal density, fish production, number of registered fisherfolk and number of existing fish ports and fish landing areas. (SQM/PNA)