BFAR sees new five-year plan requiring budget of over P38B

THE BUREAU of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will seek a budget of P38.83 billion to carry out its second five-year Comprehensive Fisheries Industry Development Plan (CNFIDP), officials said.

“The CNFIDP reaffirms the commitment of the Philippine government to the development of the fisherfolk and the industry as a whole,” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala yesterday during the National Fisheries Summit, where the CNFIDP was launched.

The Fisheries Code, or Republic Act ( RA) 8550, as amended last year by RA 10654, mandates planning for the development, management, and conservation of marine and aquatic resources.

The first five-year CNFIDP was launched in 2006. Its estimated funding requirement was P98.7 million.

The second CNFIDP is set to prioritize the fishery’s four major subsectors which are capture fisheries, aquaculture, marketing, and post-harvest.

The funding estimates break down into P16.77 billion for capture fisheries; P5.746 billion for aquaculture; P9.551 billion for post-harvest; and P872.18 million for trade and marketing.

The commercial fishing sector is estimated to grow 5% annually partly via the exploitation of new fishing grounds.

The growth estimate for smallscale fisherfolk is 1%.

In 2015, about 25% of the fish catch was lost due to mishandling and spoilage, among other reasons. The CNFIDP aims to reduce post-harvest losses to 15% by the end of the program.

In a news conference, BFAR Director Asis G. Perez said the agency will seek P2.1 billion to set up 700 more commercial fish landing centers (CFLC) next year.

Mr. Perez said yesterday that the CFLCs will add to the 252 centers the agency constructed in 2015 and the other 252 targeted for completion this year.

Meanwhile, the first Bangus (milkfish) Congress was also held yesterday at the World Trade Center along with the National Fisheries Summit.

A three-day event, the Bangus Congress is meant boost the growth of the local milkfish industry.

Mr. Alcala said that “bangus has high potential in the international market.” —