BaSulTa: PHL Seafood Capital

People usually are afraid to go to some places in southern Philippines, particularly in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi or the BaSulTa area, due to the problem of peace and order in these provinces and the presence of some Muslim militants.

But, did you know that 35-40 percent of the country’s total fisheries production come from these provinces?

Despite this, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Asis Perez said around 221,000 fisherfolk in the entire Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) belong to the poorest sector of society due to lack of government support services in the past.

As such, Perez said, the government launched Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (ASAPP) nationwide but giving emphasis on Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, to promote inclusive growth and expedite the eradication of poverty in the poorest communities.

He explained that ASAPP is an inter-agency initiative that facilitates the creation of sustainable employment and income-generating opportunities for the poor.

The program involves the participation of the private sector and local government units to make readily available programs and services more accessible to target beneficiaries.

“The problem with peace and order is related to poverty,” said Perez in an interview with the Philippines News Agency. “If we solve poverty in BaSulTa, peace and order situation in these areas will also improve.”

“BaSulTa fisherfolk already got the resources (abundance of fish catch), we (in the government) only need to enhance their capabilities such as providing them with cold storage facilities, bancas, among others,” he noted.

Perez said that if the government eliminates poverty in these provinces, “the entire Philippines will benefit and attain food sustainability.”

In August 2015, the Department of Agriculture (DA), through BFAR, launched its first ASAPP livelihood caravan in the fishing communities of Sulu where the highest poverty incidence was recorded. The caravan had serviced a total of three municipalities — Maimbung, Parang, and Panglima Tahil — where it distributed various fishing gears, chest freezers, and constructed Community Fish Landing Centers (CFLCs) amounting to Php3.49 million.

BFAR also provided these communities with rain collection facilities as potable water in these fishing communities to address the residents’ lack of fresh water.

For its second ASAPP Livelihood caravan, Perez and the entire BFAR regional directors visited in April 2016 fishing communities in Jolo, Lugus and Pangutaran, Sulu; Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi; and Maluso, Lantawan and Tigtabon, Basilan and distributed various post-harvest facilities, including rain catchers, to further improve the socio-economic conditions of fisherfolk in these areas.

In Sulu alone, a total of Php7.599 million worth of fisheries interventions such as chest freezers, gill nets, non-motorized bancas, rain catchers, seaweed farm implements were distributed to target fisherfolk in the province.

For Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, a total of Php3.750 million worth of livelihood assistance were extended to fisherfolk for them to improve their production and increase their income.

The fisherfolk beneficiaries have expressed gratitude and promised to take good care of the livelihood materials they received from the government through BFAR.

Aside from these post-harvest support, BFAR also helps the fisherfolk link their produce to market.

“When we already have enough catch, the next thing we should think about is where do we bring our produce? How do we bring our catch to the right market, how are we going to maximize profits from our catch? We have to link the product to the market,” said Perez.

“This is consistent with BFAR’s value-based production framework which advocates against unabated pressure on fishing grounds, promotes value-adding technologies to maximize market potential of every fish and fishery commodity, and foster higher profits for the fisherfolk,” he added.

Perez has vowed more livelihood interventions and technology trainings for the fisherfolk of BaSulTa, saying this indicates the “government’s serious commitment for inclusive growth and poverty alleviation in all sectors, particularly agriculture and fisheries sectors.” (PNA) SCS/LGI