The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, an agency under the Department of Agriculture pays tribute to the country’s fishermen by designating Ronald Pagcalinawan, a fisherfolk leader from Mindoro Occidental, as the national Fisherfolk Director along with 16 others as Regional Fisherfolk Directors in BFAR for the whole month of May.
Pagcalinawan was officially sworn in as the 6th National fisherfolk director by Agriculture Secretary Bernie G. Fondevilla during the opening of the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month at the DA in
Fondevilla said that despite the harsh difficulties brought about by the impact of climate change to our farmers and fishermen, they continue to work hard to provide the food for the population.
“Kaya naman kami sa Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka ay patuloy na itinaguyod ang pagdiriwang na ito taun-taon upang kilalanin ang kanilang mahalagang ambag sa ating pakikibaka sa mga hamong ito, kasabay na rin ng ating mga pagsisikap maibsan ang kahirapan at kakulangan sa pagkain”, Fondevilla said.
BFAR national director Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr. said that the Mangingisdang Direktor program, now on its sixth (6th) year of implementation, aims to provide the fisherfolk leaders a glimpse of the government’s regular operations by trading places with the regular directors.
The undertaking is one of the key programs initiated by former Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap in empowering the fisherfolk, the guidelines of which are spelled out in DA Special Order No. 88 s. 2005 and BFAR FOO No. 80 s. 2005.
Sarmiento said that under the program, the fisherfolk directors will perform all the routinary functions of the regular directors, except those involving financial and policy-related matters, while the latter also undertakes immersion in the coastal communities.
“This way, both parties will have a better understanding of each others’ positions and hopefully promote closer collaboration and stronger ties between the government and its stakeholders”, Sarmiento added.
An active FARMC leader based in Region 4B, Pagcalinawan has been a Regional Fisherfolk Director in BFAR Region 4B in 2008. This May, he will sit as the BFAR national fisherfolk director to administer the functions of 16 other BFAR regional offices headed by the following regional fisherfolk directors: Absolon Buenafe, Jr., Cordillera Administrative Region; Gavina P. Tumbaga, Region 1; Sixto N. Trinidad, Region 2; Romeo M. Sunga, Region 3; Sonny S. San Jose, Region 4A; Antonio F. dela Torre, Region 4B; Romen B. Diones, Region 5; Hernani T. Tingson, Region 6; Wilfredo M. Reyes, Sr., Region 7; Beverlito G. Montalban, Region 8; Antonio M. Duran, Region 9; Fernando S. Ocaba, Region 10; Camilo H. de los Trayco, Region 11; Brahim M. Kunsa, Region 12; Leonilo G. Vaz, Caraga Region; and Abdul Rahman T. Barazan, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.
Paglicawan stressed that in his one-month stint he would ensure that the fisherfolk in the smallest and farthest of all coastal towns would be able to understand the programs of the government. “ Gusto po naming ipatagos ang programa ng BFAR upang matulungan ang mga maliliit na mangingingisda sa pinakaliblib na lugar na kung saan halos hindi na naabot ng pamahalaan,” Paglicawan said in his message during his formal take-over as National Fisherfolk Director on May 4 at the BFAR Central Office in
Thai Government Turns Over Rice Donation for RP Typhoon Victims
The Royal Thai Embassy and Team
The simple turnover ceremonies was held last May 4, 2010 in NFA warehouse,
The rice donation was coursed under the Relief Operations of the East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve (EAERR) through the NFA. The rice will then be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for distribution to the victims of typhoon “Ondoy” in Metro Manila and selected provinces in Central and
This donation under the ASEAN framework is partially extended for the first time under the EAERR mechanism to assist the member of ASEAN countries at the time of calamity. In addition to this donation, the Thai Government provided the bilateral contribution of 100,000 kilograms of Thai rice and 50,000 sets of medical kits donated by the Royal Thai Government to the
The Royal Thai Government expressed its support to Philippine Government in its continuing rehabilitation efforts, as well as in its preparation and readiness in times of national disaster.
The EAERR is a regional cooperation scheme among ASEAN countries,
The rice donation was pledged by Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vijajiva to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the ASEAN+3 Summit held in Thailand last October 24, 2009. (NFA Public Affairs Department)
