AGUSAN DEL NORTE — Ninety-six sardine fishers from three fishing associations in Agusan del Norte are expected to earn more stable incomes after receiving more than Php 12 million worth of milkfish cage culture livelihood projects from the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) this week under the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project.
The assistance, rolled out from June 30 to July 2, 2026, in Buenavista, Magallanes, and Cabadbaran City, forms part of the Modern and Resilient Livelihood Investment (MARLIN) 2.1 Livelihood Subprojects, which aims to strengthen the economic resilience of small-scale fisherfolk by expanding sustainable aquaculture enterprises.
The livelihood packages include complete milkfish cage culture production inputs such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fish cages, fingerlings, feeds, nets, drums, and caretaker’s huts. The package awarded to the Cabadbaran City association also includes production inputs covering the first and second culture cycles to help ensure continuous operations.
Regional director Omnia B. Olama said the intervention goes beyond providing livelihood assistance, as it also prepares fishing communities for the proposed closed fishing season in Butuan Bay while promoting responsible fisheries management.
RD Olama urged beneficiaries to take ownership of the projects through teamwork, proper management, and hard work, assuring them that DA-BFAR Caraga will continue to provide technical assistance throughout implementation. Olama also encouraged fisherfolk to support the agency’s conservation efforts by protecting fisheries resources and refraining from illegal fishing activities.
FishCoRe alternate focal Loida B. Arreglado described the project turnover as a milestone for the beneficiaries, saying the livelihood packages symbolize hope, opportunity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of fishing communities.
Arreglado expressed optimism that the projects would generate sustainable income for the associations, emphasizing that their long-term success would depend on the members’ collective effort.
The first livelihood package was awarded on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, to the Calanggaman Tanke Fisherfolk Association (CATAFIA) in Buenavista. The Php 3.55-million project will benefit 35 fisherfolk through a 10-meter diameter HDPE milkfish cage culture enterprise.
Meanwhile, 29 members of the Barangay Caloc-an Small-scale Commercial Fisherfolks Cluster 1 in Magallanes received on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, another Php3.55-million livelihood package for a similar milkfish cage culture project.
The distribution concluded on Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Cabadbaran City, where the Cabadbaran City Deputized Fish Wardens Association received a Php4.93-million livelihood package for a larger 15-meter diameter HDPE fish cage project benefiting 32 fisherfolk.
For the beneficiaries, the assistance marked the realization of years of preparation.
“This is the day we have been waiting for. Our proposal has finally borne fruit,” said Junalito Gabotero, chairperson of CATAFIA.
“We will take good care of this project so it will benefit our members for years to come,” Gabotero added.
MARLIN lead focal Rizalinda L. Abing assured the associations of DA-BFAR’s continued technical support and acknowledged the assistance of the local government units in helping fisherfolk develop proposals that qualified them for the livelihood projects.
As DA-BFAR advances ecosystem-based fisheries management in FMA 9, the agency sees livelihood diversification as a vital strategy for balancing marine resource conservation with the economic well-being of fishing communities, ensuring that sardine fisheries remain productive while fisherfolk become more resilient to management measures and environmental challenges.# (Andy T. Ordoña, Information Officer, DA-BFAR Caraga)
