The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Caraga has formalized a new partnership with Rare Philippines to boost sustainable fisheries and coastal resource management in Siargao and Dinagat Islands, on Monday, September 15, during the Opening Ceremony of the 62nd Fish Conservation Week held at the South Atrium Robinsons Butuan.

The collaboration was sealed through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between DA-BFAR Caraga represented by Regional Director Omnia B. Olama and Rare Philippines Vice President Andrea L. Silva. 

Under the agreement, both parties pledged to leverage their resources and expertise to help municipal governments and fisherfolk organizations within the fishing grounds of Siargao and Dinagat Islands.

The partnership will focus on areas such as strengthening local fisheries management bodies, supporting the operationalization of Fisheries Management Area (FMA)-8, establishing managed access areas and marine reserves, enhancing coastal law enforcement, and promoting community-based savings clubs and other initiatives.

The execution of the memorandum of agreement was witnessed by key representatives from both organizations, namely,  FMRED officer-in-charge Edgardo P. Balambao, along with training division chief Anna Melissa M. Talavera, Surigao del Norte provincial fishery officer Bimbo C. Lagare and Dinagat Islands provincial fishery officer Bernard Z. Baclayo and Rare Philippines’ senior director for Shared Services and Program Implementation Cristopher G. Lomboy, together with Program Implementation director Flora Monica T. Belinario.

Through this collaboration, DA-BFAR Caraga and Rare Philippines seek to build stronger, climate-resilient fishing communities in Caraga Region, ensuring that sustainable fisheries remain a foundation for food security and economic stability in the years to come.

Rare is an international non-government organization specializing in behavior change for communities to reduce threats to natural resources, implements programs for coastal resource and fisheries management in the Philippines that help improve the preferential rights of small-scale fisherfolk in the country and the ecological and social resilience of these coastal communities, among others. (Andy T. Ordoña, Information Officer, DA-BFAR Caraga)