The 2023 National Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month (NFFM) celebration continues this fourth week of May with the Philippine fisheries subsector in the spotlight.

During the opening ceremony of the Fisheries Week of the NFFM 2023, Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Agnes Catherine T. Miranda—who also chairs the NFFM 2023 Steering Committee—lauded the successes of the country’s fisheries industry.

“The latest report of the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that our fisheries subsector contributed 54.32 billion pesos to our total agri-fishery production value for January to March 2023. It even showed a slight increase of 0.3 percent annually as an effect of the production value boost in the squid, tilapia, and blue crab industries,” Usec. Miranda shared.

The DA official also relayed more good news for the Philippine agri-fishery sector—specifically the approval of four new internationally-funded projects—which she said, “are only a few of the many steps being taken by the DA towards a productive, globally competitive, and prosperous Philippine fisheries industry.”

With a total amount of P65.3 billion, these projects are: the Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA), the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project (FishCoRe), the Scaled-up Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), and the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP).

Aside from the week-long exhibit and bazaar at the DA grounds, the DA, through its Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), will hold technology demonstrations on fish processing and urban aquaponics as well as lectures on fisheries-related processes and projects.

“I urge everyone to actively participate in this tribute to the people who propel the development of the fisheries industry—our local fisherfolk who sail our seas far and wide to catch fish while also protecting marine habitats and the country’s fish stocks,” Usec. Miranda conveyed. ### (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)