Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region VIII impart OPLAN – ISDA Market Opportunity for Fisherfolks and Cooperatives held on August 25, 2021, Wednesday via Zoom platform. In attendance were 30 cooperative members from the cooperatives engaging in fishery enterprises and other related agri-fishery
activities. The webinar was in line with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) – Head Office partnership with the Bureau of Aquatic Resources in collaboration with the Office of Congressman Sabiniano “Ben” Canama, CNPL.
CDA Regional VIII Office, RD Giovanni T. Platero on a welcome message graced the activity. He extends thanks to Regional Director Juan Albaladejo of BFAR8 for responding to the agency’s request. RD Platero: isa ‘pong malaking oportunidad na makatulong natin ang BFAR dito sa talakayang ito, at makita natin kung ano ba ‘yung mga assistance na pwedeng maibigay ng BFAR at saka ng CDA para mapaunlad ang kita ng ating mga kasapi ng Kooperatiba.
Mr. Norberto T. Berida, Chief Regional Fisheries Training of Fisherfolks Coordination Division informs participants of BFAR’s programs and services. Their post-harvest support services are noteworthy, such as the provision of refrigerated vans, ice-making machines, chest freezers, among others to qualified beneficiaries.
On marketing, they have organized KADIWA ni ANI at KITA and initiated an ISDA Delivery project for CY2021. BFAR has Market matching and digital marketing support services.Interested Individual fisherfolks or Cooperatives to avail of these can send a request letter to the Post-Harvest and Marketing Division (PHMD).
Credit or Loan Facilities are also accessible to registered fisherfolks, MSMEs, and Cooperatives as follows: Survival and Recovery (SURE COVID-19), Agri-Negosyo Program (ANYO), and Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs (KAYA) all from DA-ACPC loan programs. BFAR8 has a number of Cooperatives and MSMEs benefiting from the loan program. Participants of the activity have engaging interaction with the resource person.
Cooperative Project Development and Assistance Section (CPDAS) of the CDA Regional VIII Office, anchored the forum. Rowan Delos Santos was happy to note that BFAR 8 and cooperatives accepted the CDA invitation. He extends gratitude for the continuous support of the sector on the programs of the Authority. As the activity concludes, in the plenary, Mr. Berida talked about visiting CDA this 2nd week of September. CDA responded appreciably as we were pleased to welcome them in the office and to have a prolific engagement in the future.
