THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has touted the benefits from its four new internationally-funded projects for the agri-fishery sector worth P65.3 billion.
“These are only a few of the many steps being taken by the DA towards a productive, globally competitive, and prosperous Philippine fisheries industry,” DA Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Agnes Catherine Miranda said at the 2023 National Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month (NFFM).
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).
During the opening ceremony of the Fisheries Week, Miranda also hailed 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,” she said.
“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,” the undersecretary added.
Moreover, the 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,” Miranda said.