Philippine Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (2nd from right) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change Chief Rolf Anderson (2nd from left). With them looking are DA-BFAR Director Asis G. Perez. (extreme right) and ECOFISH Chief of Party Geronimo Silvestre (extreme left), during ECOFISH launch on 17 October 2012 at BFAR central office
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director, Atty. Asis Perez, will address four fisheries issues during the launch of USAID funded project Ecosystem Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (ECOFISH) in Surigao del Norte.
It will be held on 30 January 2013 at the Provincial Convention Center, Surigao City.
BFAR will affirm its commitment to the following issues: updating the sailfish management plan of Siargao; allocating counterpart salary for fishery technician for each local government unit for two years; providing instructor in fisheries school; developing a fisheries course in the school curriculum, specifically in Siargao; and providing two patrol boats for Surigao del Norte.
The project launching aims to raise the level of awareness of LGUs about ECOFISH. It will also gain the support of the LGUs. ECOFISH Chief of Party Gerry Silvestre will introduce the ECOFISH Project afterwhich is the unveiling of the Map of ECOFISH Project areas.
Among those who were invited were Surigao City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas, First and Second District Representatives Francisco T. Matugas and Guillermo Romarte, Jr., together with Governor Sol F. Matugas, and Vice Governor Arturo Carlos A. Egay, Jr.
About 135 participants from private and public sectors were expected to attend the launch, this includes USAID representative, Ms. Rebecca R. Guieb, the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee Chair, the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator. The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer, the Municipal Agricultural Officer, the BFAR-CARAGA, the BFAR Central Officers and the Surigao State College of Technology will also grace the event.
PRIMEX consultant Nestor Escara will also attend the project launch. With reports from Nestor Escara, site coordinator