TACLOBAN CITY – Fisherfolk associations and cooperatives in Southern Leyte have been urged by representatives from the World Bank and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to submit livelihood proposals aligned with the Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 9 Plan under the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project.
The call was made during the 4th Implementation Support Mission, held from February 25 to 27, 2025, where officials from the World Bank and BFAR visited Maasin City, Macrohon, Padre Burgos, and Tomas Oppus.
These local government units (LGUs) had previously expressed interest in post-harvest facilities, ice plants, cold storage, laboratory facilities, and bangus fish cage farming under the project.
Among the fisherfolk groups that participated in focus group discussions (FGDs) were the Women Fish Processors Association, Lib-og Farmers and Fisherfolk Association, and Fish Vendors Association of Maasin City; Kapunungang Mananagat sa Dinahugan of Padre Burgos; Tinago United Fisherfolk Association and Nagkahiusang Mangingisda sa Barangay Looc of Tomas Oppus; and LGU and sectoral representatives from Macrohon.
To qualify, fisherfolk associations must be endorsed by their LGUs, registered with BFAR FishR, and accredited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). They must have at least 15 members, commit to training under the FishCoRe Project, and provide an in-kind counterpart.
Livelihood proposals must align with the FMA Plan, use the FishCoRe standard template, and include an Expression of Interest (EOI) for projects below P5 million. Groups must also liquidate past government loans and promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture while ensuring compliance with fisheries laws.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
