The coastal towns of Miagao and San Joaquin in Iloilo province welcomed this week the opening in each of the Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC).

 The centers will serve as the hub for landing and trading of fish and other seafood products under a national program called “Targeted Action to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation in the Fishery Sector (TARGET PROGRAM).

The two municipalities have large populations of fisherfolk who registered under the program after it was launched last year by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).

The opening of the CFLCs ensures that local buyers and consumers will have access to fresh, safe and affordable fishery products, according to BFAR Regional Director Remia A. Aparri.

Aparri headed the fisheries officials and local government executives who were present at the launching of the two centers.

The projects, she said, “can help not only our LGUs but also can elevate the lives of the fishermen who depend their livelihood in fishing.”

The CFLCs also serve as training centers for fish processing including proper sanitation, proper handling and marketing and value adding, as well as the conservation and protection of fisheries resources.

Those who joined Aparri were Assistant Regional Director Carlito V. Delfin, OIC Provincial Fisheries Officer Edna Janeo and Project Development Officer Pete Semolava representing the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Regulations & the Visayas Atty. Hansel O. Didulo.

Local chief executives in Miagao also showed up, among them Municipal Mayor Macario Napulan, Vice Mayor Leonardo Naldoza, SB Member Mario Thomas Torrecampo, Municipal Agriculturist Mr. Raymund Monroy and Board Member Marcelo Serag of the First District of Iloilo.

Myrna Funclara represented the Liga ng mga Barangay and Leo Nalasa the fisherfolk of Baybay Norte and adjacent barangays as chairman of the Baybay Norte Fisherfolk Association.

Also present were National Anti-Poverty Commission representative Jess Siva, LGU Tigbauan represented by SB Jerry Tuares and Municipal Agriculturist Eugemia T. Sayson.

In San Joaquin CFLC those who attended were the Sanguniang Bayan members, Municipal Administrator Leo Satana, and the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, the fisherfolk of the Purok 5 and adjacent barangays represented by Ely Sercedillo, the president of the Federated San Joaquin Fisherfolk Association.

Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Ildefonso Toledo was also present representing Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.

Remia stressed that the landing centers “will not be a white elephant.”

Didulo assured full BFAR support for the two projects.  (Dessa Paguntalan, DA-Office of the Assistant Secretary for the Visayas and Regulations)