SP approves MOA with BFAR-10 for feed formulation machine

The 20th City Council, on its regular session yesterday presided over by Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez, authorized City Mayor Rolando A. Uy to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-10 (BFAR-10) covering the provision of one (1) set Feed Formulation Machine to the fisherfolk beneficiaries in the city.

The undertaking is part of the ongoing collaboration between the BFAR and the city in line with the Fisheries Poverty Reduction Framework featured in the Target Program of the BFAR. This is also pursuant to the provisions of RA 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, as amended by RA 10654, which mandates BFAR to provide fishery livelihood projects with the aim of providing support to marginal fisherfolk in the exercise of their preferential rights to benefit from the country’s fisheries resources, especially in municipal waters.

Moreover, the city is also mandated by law (RA 7160) to provide its constituents extension facilities related to agriculture and fishery activities which include water and soil resource utilization and conservation projects and enforcement of fishery laws in municipal waters.

Under the MOA, BFAR-10 shall coordinate with the city in the selection of qualified beneficiary and provide technical assistance/training/orientation/briefing to the fisherfolk association/cooperative beneficiary on the operation and caretaking of the said project, among others.

For its part, the city shall identify and recommend qualified beneficiary, provide materials for water and electricity supply lines and facilitate installation and connection for the project, among others. The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on agriculture and on laws and rules chaired by Councilors Jay R. Pascual and Ian Mark Q. Nacaya, respectively.