City, BFAR collaboration for Balig Sigla sa Ilog program seen

THE 19th City Council during its regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy enacted an ordinance authorizing Mayor Oscar S. Moreno to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 10 (BFAR-10). This covers the collaboration of the parties in the implementation of the Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa (BASIL) Program at Lake Lanao, Barangay Pagalungan for a period of one year.

In his endorsement to the City Council, the mayor said the partnership is very crucial since it enhances the livelihood opportunities of marginal fishermen in the area.

It also promotes food production and security among the residents of the said barangay and its neighboring areas thru the free dispersal of tilapia/carp fry/fingerlings and other indigenous freshwater fish/fingerlings at the above-mentioned lake, including the needed technical assistance for their propagation, Mayor Moreno further cited.

Under the MOA, the BFAR-10 shall provide capability enhancement to the project recipients and allocate a budget for the implementation of the BASIL program.

It shall also supervise the dispersal of tilapia/prawn fry/fingerlings and other indigenous freshwater fish fry/fingerlings through the PFOs and conduct monitoring and evaluation of the project.

For its part, the city shall identify and submit a list of qualified DOLE-registered fisherfolk beneficiaries using the criteria set by BFAR.

It shall also facilitate the documentary requirements of all activities necessary for the implementation of the BASIL Program, assist in the creation of Fisherfolk Association if there’s none existing, collect regular production catch data from the fisherfolk-beneficiaries residing at the vicinity/near the area and submit to BFAR thru the PFO, among others.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on fisheries and aquatic resources and on laws and rules chaired by Councilors Zaldy O. Ocon and Ian Mark Q. Nacaya, respectively.