By PR | 07:24 PM February 15, 2024
Gov. Aris Aumentado on Thursday convened the town mayors, agriculture and fishery national line agencies and provincial offices to express his concern for the agricultural sector.
Aumentado said agriculture remains a priority and concern as he thanked his audience which also included representatives of national line agencies and provincial offices.
He emphasized that a universal intervention is being sought to address pressing concerns on food security, including high fish price, sustaining the status of the province as African Swine Fever (ASF)-free, updating and revalidation of farmer registration and coastal resource management.
Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte echoed the governor’s full support for the agriculture sector.
She shared that serious conversations with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) related to food production have been undertaken through the directive of the governor.
A highlight of the meeting was the discussion with mayors, especially for LGUs over fishing grounds, on short term and long-term solutions to stabilize the price of fish products in the market.
The provincial government has been exploring the possibility of municipal legislation to allow small and medium scale commercial fishing within the 10.1-to-15-kilometer municipal waters. This may also include a provision on the setting of a closed season by designated area as a control measure for sustainability.
The local government of Tubigon through its municipal agriculturist confirmed an existing ordinance on “hapa-hapa” fishing which currently allows small-scale commercial fishing within their 10.1-to-15-kilometer municipal waters.
The proposal comes with safety nets on carrying capacity, ensuring that fish harvest is brought to respective Bohol markets, and the strengthening of coastal law enforcement teams, Alfeo Piloton, executive assistant on agriculture revealed.
A price structure for fish is also in discussions, in relation to costs added once fish products land in ports down to sellers.
Earlier, the governor had received the commitment of commercial fish traders for regular updates on the landing price of fish.
The forum also tackled other proposed solutions such as setting up cold storage facilities with ice production in strategic areas, establishment of mariculture sites, and introduction of new technology in fish capture fisheries and climate change resilient fishing technologies.
Last Feb. 13, fish traders and consolidators convened to identify factors that affect fish price. These include seasonality, strong water current, bad weather, high fuel cost, increased food expense for the crew, among others.
Issues and concerns were then consolidated and integrated into the proposed solutions that were presented during the forum with the mayors.
The comprehensive discussion on food security also included as resource speakers Angel Enriquez, DA-7 regional director, lawyer Handel Lagunay, Provincial Legal Officer, Vil Inguito, Coastal Resource Management Division Head of the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office, Ramil Rodela, Planning Division head of the OPA and Dr. Stella Lapiz, provincial veterinarian.
Also present were Liza Quirog, provincial agriculturist; Grace Arado, Provincial agriculture Training Institute Provincial director; Nunila Pinat and Ric Oblena, executive assistants for agriculture; Jerome Gonzales, Department of the Interior and Local Government Provincial Director and Buenavista Mayor Dave Duallo, League of Municipalities Bohol Chapter president. (PIMO/LMS)
