AGUSAN DEL SUR — Two fisherfolk associations from the municipalities of Talacogon and Trento completed a four-day Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) as part of the social preparation component for prospective beneficiaries of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Phase II Program of the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) on February 10–13, held at their respective Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAO).

Assessment activities were facilitated by the BFAR-SAAD Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO), and the Provincial Fisheries Office of Agusan del Sur (PFO-ADS), supported by MAOs, and concerned local government units to evaluate community readiness, organizational capacity, and baseline conditions prior to project implementation.

BFAR-SAAD Partners and Local Government unite to support fisherfolk beneficiaries

In Talacogon, municiapl mayor Pauline Marie Masendo expressed gratitude for the continued support extended to fisherfolk communities and emphasized the role of commitment among beneficiaries.

“Ang programa naghatag og panginabuhian ug usa ka pang long-term nga solusyon alang sa mga interesado ug tinuod nga gustong mulambo. Ana-a na ang suporta sa ato maong maningkamot gyud ang matag usa,” Masendo said.

Municipal agriculturist Hanah Faye Calunia highlighted that while Talacogon is landlocked and primarily agricultural, aquaculture remains a viable livelihood option for interested residents.

“Bisan og wala ta’y dagat dinhi sa among lungsod, mapasalamaton ta nga ang BFAR-SAAD Caraga andam motabang kanato sa pagpadagan ug pagpalambo sa atong mga fishpond, ilabi na sa pagbuhi og tilapia,” the municipal agriculturist affirmed.

During the program orientation, BFAR-SAAD regional coordinator Edgardo Balambao emphasized that the SAAD program provides support beyond fish production, including post-harvest equipment and materials to help beneficiaries establish community-based enterprises.

“Sa SAAD, dili lamang kamo ubanan sa pagbuhi sama sa paghatag ug feeds ug fingerlings, ubanan sab kamo sa inyong panginahanglan sa post-harvest materials nga inyong magamit para maka-negosyo mo sa inyong lugar,” Balambao stated.

Agusan del Sur provincial fishery officer Noel Pugoy stressed the importance of unity and shared responsibility among association members to ensure smooth project roll-out.

“Kon kita magtinabangay ug maghiusa isip usa ka grupo kay na buo naman gyud mo, bahala hinay-hinay, pero sigurado gayud nga kani mag-malampuson,” the PFO mentioned.

Following the Talacogon assessment, the team conducted a similar PRA activity in Trento with another newly organized fisherfolk association.

Municipal agriculturist Deolita Abadillo conveyed her support for the group and welcomed the inclusion of additional SAAD beneficiaries in the municipality.

“Pasalamat kita nga adunay bag-ong benepisyaryo sa BFAR-SAAD dinhi sa atong munisipyo, diin dugang nga tabang alang sa inyo ug sa pagpalig-on sa atong panginabuhian,” Engr. Abadillo shared.

Fisherfolk beneficiaries undergo workshops and profiling to strengthen their association

During the two-day sessions in each municipality, fisherfolk participants utilized various PRA tools to identify available resources, map community conditions, and analyze challenges and opportunities related to aquaculture development.

The activity also included data profiling, where facilitators gathered organizational and personal information from members to establish baseline records for program monitoring.

Meanwhile, alternate provincial fishery officer Chelow Pairat led an orientation on operational processes and beneficiary responsibilities to better prepare the associations for potential project implementation.

Following the assessment phase, the two organizations will undergo technical assistance and hands-on demonstration training before any project inputs are released. The process aims to ensure that members are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage resources effectively and sustain fisheries-based livelihood projects under BFAR-SAAD Phase II.