Published: 09 October 2020

Advocating Inclusivity. The PFDA - GFPS conducted a 2-day virtual GAD Planning and Budgeting participated by all the Technical Working Group (TWG) members from the PFDA Central Office and Regional Fish Ports, October 5-6.

The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority - Gender and Development Focal Point System (PFDA GFPS) is continuously spearheading initiatives to mainstream GAD concepts and measures in the agency including all operating units all over the Philippines.

 Recently, the PFDA - GFPS conducted a 2-day GAD Planning and Budgeting Workshop participated by all the Technical Working Group (TWG) members from the PFDA Central Office and Regional Fish Ports, October 5-6.

 Aside from reviewing the current status of the PFDA-GFPS and remaining activities for FY 2020, the workshop also covered discussions on the preparation and necessary adjustments on the strategies for conducting programs and activities for FY 2021 with consideration relevant to the pandemic.

The PFDA-GFPS also discussed the new guidelines set by the recent issuance of the Memorandum Circular 2020-05: Preparation and Online Submission of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Gender and Development (GAD) Plans and Budgets from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

One of the highlights of the Memorandum Circular 2020-05 emphasized on the prioritization of gender issues brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic that are within organizational mandates as part of the FY 2021 GPB.

The recently issued guidelines also established the new assessment formula for Attributed Programs.

 (Public Information Division with report and photos from the PFDA – GFPS Secretariat)

Published: 07 October 2020

Research and Development. The Lucena Fish Port Complex and Sual Fish Port both assisted the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute to locate various respondents such as fishers, brokers, traders, retailers, and fishing company owners on September 1 - 4, and September 29 - October 2, respectively.

 As part of the research and development efforts of the government to further understand the needs of the stakeholders in the fishery sector, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) sought the assistance of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, particularly the Sual Fish Port (SFP) and Lucena Fish Port Complex (LFPC) for their current study --- Assessment of Fisheries Post-Harvest Losses in the Philippines.

The LFPC and SFP both assisted the NFRDI to locate various respondents such as fishers, brokers, traders, retailers, and fishing company owners on September 1 - 4, and September 29 - October 2, respectively.

The NFRDI visited selected areas in the Philippines to determine and quantify post-harvest losses in economically important fishery commodities in all areas of fishery supply chain such as catching, landing, transport, and trading.

The NFRDI is the lead agency for fisheries research and development in the country under the Department of Agriculture.

According to NFRDI website, the agency emphasizes the integral role of fisheries research in the development, management, conservation and protection of the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources.

(Public Information Division with reports and photos from PFDA – Lucena Fish Port Complex and Sual Fish Port)

Published: 06 October 2020

 With the commitment of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority to ensure unceasing delivery of service to all the stakeholders and fish supply to consumers, PFDA- Central Office and all the Regional Fish Ports are continuously implementing strict COVID-19 prevention and health protocols.

Aside from the daily and standard maintenance cleaning activities, PFDA Regional Fish Ports are also conducting periodic intensive general cleaning and disinfection

Recently, the PFDA – Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC) conducted its 7^th monthly general cleaning and disinfection activity as part of the continuous initiatives and intensive measures to maintain a safe working environment for all the stakeholders, October 3.

Safe Workplace. The PFDA – Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC) conducted its 7th monthly general cleaning and disinfection activity and participated by various individuals, groups, and stakeholders, October 3.

 Led by Ms. Luz P. Ortiz, NFPC Port Manager, the activity is participated by various individuals, groups, and stakeholders who are constantly supporting all the PFDA-NFPC activities such as the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Barangay NBBN and NBBS, and Thunder Fire and Rescue Volunteer at Delta Fire Volunteer.

NFPC stakeholders such as the Association of Fresh Fish Traders of the Phils., Inc. (AFFTPI), Market 2 Daytime and Night time Fish Traders Association, Market 3,4,5 Navotas Fish Traders Association, Irma Fishing and Trading, Inc., RBL Fishing Corporation, Royale Fishing Corporation, Chanidae Marketing Corporation, Irma Ice Plant; and United Navotas Fish Port Small-Scale Fish Traders, Fish Workers and Fisherfolks Association also supported the event.

NFPC - Food Safety and Environmental Management Unit, Manila Alliance Management Services Cooperative (MAMSC), Catalina Security Agency (CSA) also joined the event.

Meanwhile, the PFDA - General Santos Fish Port Complex (GSFPC) also conducted its thorough and intensive flushing and cleaning activities, September 27.

Led by Mr. Jun P. Superticioso, GSFPC Port Manager, the event was also supported by Philbest Canning Corporation's Volunteer Firefighters.

Safe Workplace. The PFDA – General Santos Fish Port Complex (GSFPC) conducted thorough and intensive flushing and cleaning activities with the help of Philbest Canning Corporation's Volunteer Firefighters , September 27

The PFDA - Iloilo Fish Port Complex (IFPC) is also conducting weekly intensive disinfection activities following strict implementation of COVID-19 measures and placing of the Iloilo City under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine from September 25 to October 9 by the City Government Executive Order 149 – A, series of 2020.

Safe Workplace. The PFDA – Iloilo Fish Port Complex (IFPC) is also conducting weekly intensive disinfection activities following strict implementation of COVID-19 measures and placing of the Iloilo City under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine.

 (Public Information Division with reports and photos from the PFDA – Navotas Fish Port Complex, PFDA - General Santos Fish Port Complex, and PFDA - Iloilo Fish Port Complex)

Published: 29 September 2020

Unhampered Service. The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority – Public Information Division (PFDA PID) participated in the Freedom of Information (FOI) virtual conference, September 25.

 As part of the commitment to provide unhampered delivery of service and keep up with the information needs of all the stakeholders and interested parties despite the pandemic, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority – Public Information Division (PFDA PID) participated in the Freedom of Information (FOI) virtual conference, September 25.

The workshop recognized the adjustments and circumstances brought by the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Compliance Monitoring Division (CMD) of the FOI-PMO organized the online event and gathered more than 100 FOI receiving officers from various National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs).

The activity covered updates and sharing of agencies’ best practices and challenges on FOI implementation especially during pandemic, and 2020 FOI Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) Requirements.

The FOI-PMO also solicited feedback from FOI Receiving Officers (FROs) on agency implementation and suggestions to further develop innovative solutions to further improve FOI implementation in all government agencies.

According to the FOI-PMO, the eFOI portal received a total of 11,847 requests of information over the course of the Community Quarantine period from March 14, 2020 to September 15, 2020.

The Freedom of Information (FOI) is a government mechanism, which allows Filipino citizens to request any information about government transactions and operations, provided that it shall not put into jeopardy – privacy and matters of national security, according to the FOI website (foi.gov.ph).

PCOO Assistant Secretary Kristian R. Ablan, FOI Program Director, graced the event, while Ms. Eden Darlene A. Mendoza, FOI Compliance Monitoring Division Chief, served as the resource person. (Public Information Division)

Published: 25 September 2020

Risk-based Thinking. The Internal Quality Audit (IQA) members from the PFDA – Central Office and Zamboanga Fish Port Complex (ZFPC) completed the introductory course of the ISO 31000:2009 or the risk management — principles and guidelines, September 25.

 To further improve the Quality Management System (QMS) of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), the Internal Quality Audit (IQA) members from the PFDA – Central Office and Zamboanga Fish Port Complex (ZFPC) completed the introductory course of the ISO 31000:2009 or the risk management — principles and guidelines, September 25.

Led by the Ms. Gloria P. Vasquez, QMS-IAQ Team Head, the online training was also organized as part of the preparation for the upcoming surveillance audit this coming 4^th quarter of 2020.

Aside from the discussions on the fundamentals of risk management tools, techniques, models and ISO 31000:2009, the training also included workshop on identifying actual organizational risks and its possible causes in the context of the core process established in the PFDA QMS Manual.

The workshop also covered risk assessment procedure to understand potential organizational impact, and risk treatment to identify measures to mitigate the effect of risks in the overall productivity.

According to the ISO website, “ISO 31000:2009 provides general guidelines, design and implementation of risk management plans and frameworks of a specific organization covering aspects on objectives, context, structure, operations, processes, functions, projects, products, services, or assets and specific practices employed”.

Engr. Erickson M. Rabena served as the training resource person. (Public Information Division with reports and photos from the Internal Audit Department)

Published: 24 September 2020

Special Field Monitoring Visit. Mr. Ignacio M. Yao (OIC, PFDA-ZFPC) and Ms. Ma. Christine D. Lacuesta poses with the RPMC IX visitors along with Engr. Orlie Villareal and Vicente T. Lao Construction’s Project Manager, Mr. Jose Federico B. Uluan.

 The Regional Development Council IX (RDC IX) conducted a pre-departure meeting for the 3rd Quarter of 2020 and a special field monitoring visit to selected projects of some agencies in the Zamboanga Region, including the ongoing projects of PFDA – Zamboanga Fish Port Complex (ZFPC), September 21.

The site visit was attended by members of the Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC). Among the visitors were Ms. Leticia O. Lobren, Acting Secretary of RPMC IX and Team Leader of RPMC-TWG, Mr. Mark Louie C. Martin, Co-Chairman of RPMC-IX and OIC-RD of DBM IX, Mr. Ceferino E. Pelinggon and Ms. Elvie D. Maisog, Secretariats of RPMC IX, and some members of the RMPC - Technical Working Group (TWG).

Special Field Monitoring Visit. The Regional Development Council IX (RDC IX) conducted a pre-departure meeting for the 3rd Quarter of 2020 and a special field monitoring visit to selected projects of some agencies in the Zamboanga Region, including the ongoing projects of PFDA – Zamboanga Fish Port Complex (ZFPC), September 21.

Prior to the site visit, Ms. Ma. Christine D. Lacuesta, PFDA-ZFPC’s Acting Planning Officer, made a short presentation on the project profile and status of the ongoing construction of PFDA-ZFPC’s Pier and Market Hall.

Furthermore, PFDA-ZFPC received a token of appreciation from the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources IX (DA-BFAR IX) for its significant contribution to the success in the implementation of Programs, Projects, and Activities, and in the fulfillment of its mandate to serve the Fishery and Ancillary stakeholders of Zamboanga Region.

Token of Appreciation from DA-BFAR IX. The PFDA-ZFPC was fiven a token of appreciation its significant contribution to the success in the implementation of Programs, Projects, and Activities, and in the fulfillment of its mandate to serve the Fishery and Ancillary stakeholders of Zamboanga Region.

The token was awarded during the closing ceremony of the 57^th Fish Conservation Week.

(Public Information Division with reports and photos from PFDA – Zamboanga Fish Port Complex)