1,783 projects eyed to curb poverty in fishing communities

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PNA) – The newly launched Fisheries Coastal Resources and Livelihood (FishCORAL) Project will carry out 1,783 livelihood project in poor fishing communities in Eastern Visayas.

These projects, designed to raise the income of fishermen by 10 percent and cut poverty incidence by 5 percent, include seaweed farming, fish culture, aquasilviculture, fish pen/pond and processing.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Juan D. Alabaladejo said the new project primarily funded by the United Nations – International Fund for Agricultural Development (UN-IFAD) will cover 500 villages in Matarinao Bay, Leyte Gulf, Silago-Cabalian Bays, and Maqueda Bay. 

In Matarinao Bay, these coastal towns are Gen. Macarthur, Hernani, Quinapondan, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar. 

In Leyte Gulf, coverage areas are Balangiga, Giporlos, Guiuan, Lawaan, Mercedes, Quinapondan, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar; Basey and Marabut in Samar; Abuyog, Dulag, Javier, MacArthur, Mayorga, Palo, Tacloban City, Tanauan, and Tolosa in Leyte.

For Silago-Cabalian Bays, the project will reach out to fishermen in Southern Leyte towns of Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Liloan, San Juan, Silago, and Saint Bernard.

In Maqueda Bay, these areas are Catbalogan City, Daram, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, San Sebastian, Talalora, Villareal, Zumarraga.

Of the 1,783 projects, 760 are for seaweed farming, 471 for fish culture, 452 for aquasilviculture, 32 for fish pen/pond, 50 for processing, and 18 for fishery-related enterprise projects.

Livelihood development is just of the components of FishCORAL, which focuses on organizational strengthening and promotion of microenterprises.

Training modules will be provided covering topics such as group organization and management, basic entrepreneurship, business management, value-chain concepts and approaches, coastal resources management and gender mainstreaming. 

“FishCORAL project will provide Php100,000 per eligible people’s organization (PO) activity to support the inital development of individual livelihood enterprises for members of the fishing communities,” Albaladejo added.

The project financed inputs for livelihood will be provided as a package combined with the provision of training for PO members. Training will include both technical skills and the business development aspects.

On Tuesday, BFAR and UN-IFAD launched in this city the Php1.86 billion FishCORAL Project for 1,098 poverty-stricken communities in 11 target coastal areas in Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga Region, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The project will intensify measures to lessen poverty incidence in fishing communities and rally the protection and conservation of coastal resources. (PNA)

FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

BFAR, UN agency launch PHP1.86-B coastal resource, livelihood project

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PNA) – The Philippine government and the United Nations–International Fund for Agricultural Development (UN-IFAD) is investing PHP1.86 billion for the Fisheries Coastal Resources and Livelihood (FishCORAL) Project in 1,098 poverty-stricken communities.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and UN-IFAD officials launched the project in this city on Tuesday for implementation in 11 target coastal areas in Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga Region, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

BFAR Director Asis Perez said the project will intensify measure to lessen poverty incidence in fishing communities and rally the protection and conservation of coastal resources in selected areas.

“Fishermen are among the poorest groups in the country with a poverty incidence of 41.4 in 2009. This is due to low coastal productivity, fish stock depletion, pollution, over fishing, poor access to basic services, high population density, inadequate post-harvest support, and lack of alternative source of income,” Perez explained.

FishCORAL covers Ragay Gulf, Asid Gulf, and Albay Gulf in Bicol Region; Leyte Gulf, Matarinao Bay, Silago-Cabalian waters, and Maqueda Bay in Eastern Visayas; Butuan Bay and Lianga-Bislig-Hinatuan Bays in Caraga; and Ilana Bay and Sulu Sea in ARMM.

The project covers the provinces of Camarines Sur, Masbate, Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, and Sulu.

For Leyte Gulf alone, fish biomass at present is 1.72 metric tons (mt) per square kilometer, way low than the sustainable 10 mt fish biomass per square kilometer, according to BFAR Regional Director Juan D. Albaladejo.

The project aims to reduce poverty in the target areas by at least five percent from the mean poverty incidence of 42 percent.

“Let us protect the coastal water, have enough fish biomass, which would result to better production and higher income,” Perez said.

He cited the intensified protection at Visayan Sea, which resulted to increase in fish population from 2.3 mt to more than four mt per square kilometer.

FishCORAL has three inter-related components – coastal resource management, livelihood development, and project management and coordination.

Interventions include governance and legislation, law enforcement, community-based planning, resource rehabilitation, infrastructure and equipment support, organizational strengthening, and promotion of micro-enterprise.

The IFAD loan, estimated at USD29.95 million, will cover 68 percent of the total project cost. The IFAD grant of USD0.69 million will cover two percent of the total funds.

The Department of Agriculture-BFAR will finance 14 percent of the total project costs. Contribution from the local government units and community beneficiaries are estimated at 16 percent of the overall cost.

“There will be a monitoring and evaluation of all projects to see its impact and ensure that funds are being used for intended beneficiaries,” said Benoit Thierry, UN-IFAD country manager. (PNA)
FFC/SQM

BFAR seizes 3 tons of red tide-contaminated shellfish in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 18 (PNA) – About three tons of red tide contaminated shellfish harvested in Samar province have been seized and buried by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the past few weeks.

The shellfish locally known as “barinday” have been seized in Allen, Northern Samar port for delivery to Manila-based exporters with market ties abroad.

“Since we impose shellfish ban in the last quarter of 2015, we have stepped up our watch in ports. Barinday is the most commonly transported specie since this is for export to Taiwan,” said BFAR Regional Director Juan D. Albaladejo.

BFAR has raised shellfish ban over Carigara Bay in Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Capoocan, and Leyte towns in Leyte province; Biliran Strait in Naval, Caibiran, Cabucgayan, Culaba, Kawayan, and Almeria in Biliran province; and coastal waters of Leyte, Leyte.

Red tide alert is also up over Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Samar; Irong Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar; and Maqueda Bay in Catbalogan City, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, and Calbiga, Samar.

Albaladejo clarified that among the bays affected late last year, only coastal waters in Villareal and Jiabong in Samar have been confirmed free from red tide toxins.

Since October this year, Eastern Visayas region has been threatened by what the BFAR described as the biggest red tide bloom that has not been seen in more than three decades.

The fisheries bureau blamed the prolong dry season this year and sudden downpour as the major factor that triggered the bloom in eight bays and coastal waters, considered as the region’s major source of shellfish.

From late November until early December, the infestation was alarming since the color of water turned to copper red with a depth of six to nine meters, stretching up to a kilometer from the shoreline, according to Albaladejo.

The discoloration of seawater is triggered by massive population growth of few species of a type of algae that produce toxins.

Between November to December 2015, paralytic shellfish poisoning has killed a seven-year-old boy in Carigara, Leyte and a 62-year-old man in Caibiran, Biliran, according to BFAR. (PNA)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Gov’t to launch fishery, coastal management project in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas will join the nationwide launch of the Fisheries, Coastal Resources and Management Project (FishCORAL) on Jan. 19.

BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said the special project will address key issues that worsens poverty incidence among fishermen through management of the coastal and fisheries resources.

Another component is the implementation of community-based enterprises in the 1,098 coastal communities of the target bays and gulfs in Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga Region, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The project, which will kick off within the first three months of the year, is funded with the assistance from the International Fund for Agricultural Development of the United Nations (UN-IFAD) and the Philippine government.

The launching will be led by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and BFAR National Director Asis Perez. It will be witnessed by governors, mayors, fisherfolk leaders, local government officials, and stakeholders from all over the country.

According to Albaladejo, the project’s implementation will last for five years. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR

BFAR sees weakening red tide in Eastern Visayas bays

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 24 (PNA) – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has been seeing signs of weakening red tide that plagued several bays in Eastern Visayas this quarter.

BFAR Regional Director Juan D. Albaladejo said typhoon-induced rains and cooler weather in the past few weeks have contributed to lower water temperature and salinity, which is not anymore friendly to the toxic organisms.

“Toxicity level in both shellfish meat and seawater has been going down, but shellfish ban is still up in affected bays. Red tide should be consistently negative for three readings before we can declare that an area is red tide-free,” Albaladejo said in a mobile phone interview.

Since October this year, Eastern Visayas region has been threatened by what the BFAR described as the biggest red tide bloom that has not been seen in more than three decades.

The fisheries bureau blamed the prolonged dry season this year and sudden downpour as the major factors that triggered the bloom in eight bays and coastal waters, considered as the region’s major source of shellfish.

From late November until early December, the infestation was alarming since the color of water turned to copper red with a depth of six to nine meters, stretching up to a kilometer from the shoreline, according to Albaladejo.

The discoloration of seawater is triggered by massive population growth of few species of a type of algae that produce toxins.

BFAR has raised a shellfish ban over Carigara Bay in Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Capoocan, and Leyte towns in Leyte province; Biliran Strait in Naval, Caibiran, Cabucgayan, Culaba, Kawayan, and Almeria in Biliran province; and coastal waters of Leyte, Leyte.

Red tide alert is also up over Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Samar; Irong Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar; Villareal Bay in Villareal, Samar; and Maqueda Bay in Jiabong, Catbalogan City, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, and Calbiga, Samar.

In the past five weeks, paralytic shellfish poisoning had killed a seven-year-old boy in Carigara, Leyte and a 62-year-old man in Caibiran, Biliran, according to BFAR. At least 18 people were hospitalized after eating shellfish with red tide toxins.

BFAR hopes that red tide will completely dissipate early next year. (PNA)
LAP/SQM

BFAR probes fish kill; to file raps vs ship owner for dumping waste

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 11 (PNA) - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will file a case against the owner of the unnamed ship for dumping highly toxic chemicals to the sea that killed more than a ton of marine products in Babatngon, Leyte.

Citing initial investigation, BFAR Regional Director Juan D. Albaladejo blamed the ballast waste released by the unnamed vessel on Monday as the main cause of the fish kill.

“Our team has been gathering all data in preparation for the formal filing of case against the ship operator for violating Republic Act 10654,” Albaladejo said in a mobile phone interview.

The fish kill has stopped Tuesday afternoon, but until now BFAR is still clueless on the name of the vessel that dumped the waste on Monday.

BFAR is coordinating with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to identify the vessel. Among all government agencies, only EMB has the access to the oil depot in Bacong village, Babatngon town.

“Our assumption is that after the crew unloaded the oil, they cleaned up the tanks using chemicals and dumped the waste to the sea. The waste is highly toxic since it killed even bottom-dweller species such as blue crab, stingrays and octopus within 24 hours,” the official explained.

Fish appeared sluggish, surfacing from water and dying with gaping mouth, according to Albaladejo.

BFAR also dismissed claims that the fish kill is caused by red tide bloom in Carigara Bay since toxicity level in Babatngon town is very low. (PNA)
LAP/Sarwell Q. Meniano

Chemical spill kills fish in Leyte town

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 9 (PNA) -– The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has expressed alarm over fish kill in Babatngon, Leyte due to ballast waste discharged by unnamed vessel.

The fisheries bureau has sent teams to dig more details on the reported chemical spill and get the identity of the vessel that docked at the oil depot in Bacong village, Babatngon town. The vessel reportedly arrived on Sunday and left Tuesday afternoon.

Citing reports from local fishermen, BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said in a mobile phone interview that in the coastal subvillage of Nabungcagan, at least 300 kilograms of assorted marine products were found dead.

In the nearby Tulaan subvillage, 450 kilograms have been affected by the spill.

“Assorted species were affected including bottom dwellers such as blue swimming crab, octopus, stingray, suggesting chemical spill,” Albaladejo told PNA.

The fish kill has started on Monday and has been spreading to nearby areas until Wednesday noon, according to BFAR.

“Fish appeared sluggish, surfacing from water and died with gaping mouth. No obvious lesions seen from body surface,” Albaladejo explained.

The fisheries bureau got the report about the chemical spill on Tuesday from the Office of the Civil Defense.

The BFAR official said that this is not the first time a fish kill hit the coastal area of Babatngon due to oil or chemical spill. The recent incident prompted authorities to look into environmental laws violations of the oil depot.

Babatngon town is about 31 kilometers northwest from this city. (PNA)
FFC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Biggest red tide bloom in 30 years hits Eastern Visayas

By Sarwell Q. Meniano

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 4 (PNA) – Eastern Visayas region is threatened by what the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) described as the biggest red tide bloom that has not been seen in more than three decades.

BFAR Regional Director Juan Alabaladejo blamed the prolong dry season this year and sudden downpour as the major factor that triggered the bloom in eight bays and coastal waters, considered as the region’s major source of shellfish.

“If you’re to an aerial view of Samar Sea up to Biliran Sea, the color of water turned to copper red with a depth of six to nine meters, stretching up to a kilometer from the shoreline. This is the most widespread occurrence since 1983,” Albaladejo said in a phone interview.

The discoloration of seawater is triggered by massive population growth of few species of a type of algae that produce toxins.

Since mid-October, BFAR has been raising alert over Carigara Bay in Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Capoocan, and Leyte towns in Leyte province; Biliran Strait in Naval, Caibiran, Cabucgayan, Culaba, Kawayan, and Almeria in Biliran province; and coastal waters of Leyte, Leyte.

Red tide alert is also up over Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Samar; Irong Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar; Villareal Bay in Villareal, Samar; and Maqueda Bay in Jiabong, Catbalogan City, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, and Calbiga, Samar.

“The red tide occurrence has affected the livelihood of thousands of fishermen, but we have to strictly impose shellfish ban to safeguard public health,” said BFAR

Since mid November, the toxin found in shellfish harvested from contaminated bays, has already killed a seven-year old boy and downed 22 others in Leyte and Biliran provinces, according to the Department of Health (DOH)

The boy from the coastal San Mateo village in Carigara town succumbed on Nov. 30 after eating univalve shellfish harvested from the bay contaminated with algae.

The other six members of his family also manifested symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning, but survived, according to DOH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Minerva Molon.

In San Mateo village alone, red tide has downed 16 people. The nearby village of Minuhang in Barugo town has recorded four cases of poisoning with one victim still confined at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in this city.

Two victims were also downed on Nov. 28 in Naval, Biliran or a week after BFAR issued a shellfish bulletin, placing Biliran Strait as red tide-affected area.

All victims have experienced vomiting, dizziness, numbness of extremities, and paralysis.

Molon said that one mortality is very alarming considering that there have been repeated warnings from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

“Some victims were not able to hear warnings. I think verbal announcement is not enough, they should print it and post the announcement in strategic areas,” Molon added.

Albaladejo said the reading for waters in Carigara Bay and in Biliran is 9,000 and 12,000 cells per liter, respectively. This is way above the 10 cells per liter during normal situations.

The official has called on the public to heed government warnings not to harvest, transport, trade, and eat any kind of shellfish contaminated with algae. (PNA)
CTB/SQM

BFAR intercepts shipments of shellfish with red tide toxins

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 2 (PNA) –- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has intercepted on Tuesday five shipments of shellfish gathered from Samar bays found to be positive of red tide toxins.

BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said quarantine officers seized sacks of shellfish at the roll-on roll-off port in Allen, Northern Samar scheduled for shipment to Luzon late Monday night until Tuesday morning.

“We received information that it will be shipped to Bicol region and Manila via bus. The 1,404 kilograms of nylon shells are destined for export to Taiwan,” Albaladejo said in a phone interview.

Other shellfish seized by authorities from traders were 180 kilograms of mussel, 240 kilograms of bamboo shell, 80 kilograms of clam.

“BFAR has already identified the shipper. We will summon them and file a case as well,” Albaladejo said.

The presence of red tide calls for prohibition in the gathering, trading and consumption of shellfish from identified areas.

On Nov. 20, BFAR has raised red tide alert over Irong Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar; Maqueda Bay in Jiabong, Samar; Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Samar; Carigara Bays in Leyte province and Biliran Strait in Biliran province.

“The red tide bloom originating from Cambatutay Bay and Carigara Bays have now to Biliran Strait with readings of red tide organisms above the 10 cells per liter of seawater in almost all towns of Biliran province,” Albaladejo said.

“The tide also move inward of Maqueda Bay with high readings in coastal waters of Villareal towns,” he added.

The fisheries bureau has stepped up water sampling activities in affected areas to ensure safety of shellfish consumers. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO