Beneficiary groups under the Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project have taken a step closer to accessing sustainable livelihood investments after successfully completing a three-day Business Proposal Writeshop from April 22 to 24, 2026.

The activity, conducted under the project’s Modern and Resilient Livelihood Investment (MARLIN) component, gathered at least 18 beneficiary groups from Components 2.1 and 2.2 across Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte. It builds on earlier outputs from their Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), translating these into more concrete, investment-ready proposals.

Organizers said the writeshop was designed to strengthen the groups’ capacity to develop “bankable and compliant” subproject proposals aligned with project standards—an essential step before funding can be approved and released.

Proposals under Component 2.1 focused largely on aquaculture innovations, including the establishment of 15-meter high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fish cages, as well as polyculture systems integrated with fish processing equipment. Meanwhile, Component 2.2 proposals leaned toward enterprise development, covering fish trading ventures, production of value-added bangus products, facility upgrades, and expansion of existing aquaculture operations.

The writeshop followed a structured and participatory format, guiding participants through the technical, financial, and environmental aspects of proposal development. A strong emphasis was also placed on financial planning—ensuring that project costs are realistic, budgets are aligned with actual needs, and proposed interventions remain feasible over the long term.

Throughout the sessions, beneficiary groups refined their proposals through workshops and technical coaching, improving both the quality of their submissions and their readiness to present them before evaluators.

The activity culminated in a presentation of completed proposals, with facilitators providing practical guidance on effective pitching ahead of the Grant Proposal Review Committee (GPRC) evaluation.

Once reviewed and endorsed by the GPRC, qualified proposals will be forwarded to the National Project Management Office (NPMO) for final approval and subsequent downloading of funds.

Officials said the initiative underscores the continuing push to empower fisherfolk organizations through community-driven, sustainable livelihood programs—while strengthening the capacity of local groups to plan, manage, and scale fisheries enterprises. (Andy T. Ordoña, Information Officer, DA-BFAR Caraga/with reports from FCU Caraga FishCoRe Project Team)