NATIONAL fisheries officials are stepping up collaboration with their local counterparts in the Bangsamoro to maximize the autonomous region’s position as the country’s top fish producer in the past two years.
Pendatun S. Patarasa, director-general for fisheries services of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), cited the need to improve post-harvest facilities and ports to boost the region’s contribution to national supply.
“The policy directions of MAFAR are aligned with that of the national agency, including production, increase food security and nutrition,” Mr. Patarasa said in a statement on Friday following a recent meeting with officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Regions in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ranked first in fishery production volume with 4.25 million metric tons in 2021 and 4.34 million metric tons in 2022, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Mr. Patarasa said “high-impact projects” such as the rehabilitation of existing fish ports and provision of refrigeration equipment and facilities will reduce the region’s high post-harvest losses.
He added that the ministry “is looking at augmenting the regional production” in aquaculture.
BFAR Director Demosthenes R. Escoto said the target of increasing national fisheries production by at least 10% will need the contribution of all regions.
“This meeting with MAFAR will bring to the fore addressing fisheries concerns nationwide which requires a concerted effort of all regions, including BARMM,” Mr. Escoto said.
The BFAR has also been assisting the region in enhancing processing and marketing capacity through value-adding training.
In March, fisheries officers from the region and its provinces underwent training on fish fermentation, bottling, smoking, and packaging from experts based at the BFAR’s central office. — MSJ