Fifty-three fisherfolk associations (FA) in Caraga Region have completed social preparation activities to empower marginalized fisherfolks through series of meetings and trainings, including needs assessments, in order to ensure that fisherfolk beneficiaries were prepared to accept and manage their livelihood sub-projects that they will be receiving from the DA-BFAR SAAD Phase II.

To recall, only two (2) out of the five (5) provinces of Caraga region were covered under the implementation of DA-BFAR SAAD Program Phase I in 2019–2021, which consisted of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. In its second phase, all five (5) provinces in the region are included, covering thirty-six (36) municipalities as program beneficiaries.

One of the salient features of the social preparation activities is the Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) which aims to assess the needs of the beneficiary prior to project planning and implementation.

Accomplished through document analysis, interviews, and site validation, the BNA strives to collect fundamental data from the beneficiaries necessary to match present and future goals for the particular FAs. The outcomes of the BNA approach will serve as a starting point for program implementers as they develop the appropriate next steps for the food production and livelihood component of the SAAD project, including the marketing assistance and enterprise development component, which aims to progress fisherfolk producers as community-based enterprises (CBE).

Caraga’s identified FAs beneficiary in each province are as follows:
• Surigao del Sur
o United San Roque Fisherfolk Association
o Hunop Rizal Fishermen Association
o Garay Kauswagan In-Land Fisherfolk Association
o Zone 1 B Fisherfolk Association
o San Miguel Fishpond Operator’s Association
o Nurcia Fisherfolk Association (NFA)
o Nagkahiusang Gagmayng Mananagat na Nagpanalipod sa Kadagatan (NAGAMAPAKA)
• Agusan del Norte
o Maningalao Freshwater Fishpond Operators
o Mag-Uuma Sa Tagbongabong Association (MATAS)
o Balang-Balang Pass-on Livestock Raisers Association
o Maningalao Supermom Association
o Balang-Balang Hatchery Operators Association (BAHOA)
o Dalicanan Fisherfolk Association
o San Antonio Fisherfolk Organization
o Rosario Agrarian Reform Cooperative (RARC)
• Dinagat Islands
o Dinagat Municipal Fishers Association
o Nagkahiusang Mananagat Sa Roxas (NAMARO)
o Asosasyon Sa Mag-uuma Ug Mananagat Sa Sitio Katipunan
• Agusan del Sur
o Buenasuerte Farmers Association (BFA)
o Talacogon Farmers & Fisherfolk Association (TAFFA)
o Tagbulakan Farmers Association
o Guava Upland Livelihood Association (GULA)
o Sangurda Usad Farmers Association (SUFA)
o N ew Visayas USAD Faermers Association
o Hugpong Mag-Uuma Sa Zillovia Association
o Bayugan 3 Upland Diversified Farmers Association (BUDFA)
o Tandang Sora Organic Farmers Association (TASOFA)
o Guadalupe United Farmers Association (GUFA)
o Canal Oro Farmers Association (COFA)
o New Tubigon Fisherfolk Association (NETUFA)
o Kalingayan Farmers Fishpond Livelihood Association (KAFFLA)
o Ilihan Farmers Association
o Veruela Fisherfolk Association (VFA)
o Anoling Farmers Association (ANFA)
o Agipawa Farmers Irrigators Association (AFIA)
o Camacawan Farmers Association
o Puting Buhangin Fisherfolk And Farmers Association (PABUFFA)
o Camansi Farmers Association (CFA)
o Monte Verde Farmer Association
o Indigenous Peoples Farmers Association Of Loreto
o Small Fishing Culture Tilapia Organization
o Bantay Danao Loreto Association
• Surigao del Norte
o San Isidro Fishpond Workers And Operators Association
o Cabugao Crab Producers Association
o Fabio Fisherfolk Association
o Tongao Pongtud Farmers Association
o Tubod Fisherfolk Association
o Cabitoonan Fisherfolks Association
o Passt Gamb Fisherfolk Sison Association
o T. Arlan Protected Fisherfolk Association
o Barangay Oslao Fisherfolk Association
o Hanagdong Fisherfolk Association
o Siargao Integrated Fisherfolk Association

After the ‘socprep’, FAs will undergo specialized training to improve their knowledge on fundamental management skills relative to the projects that will be given to them. Additionally, some Provincial Fisheries Offices, which completed their ‘socprep’ early, have already conducted trainings to some FAs, while others are still currently on-going.