Philippine Fisheries Development Authority represented by Davao Fish Port Complex joined the Kabisig Philippine Government Expo and Trade Fair at the Abreeza Ayala Mall, Davao City which ran fromApril 17-19, 2018. This is the first time for the PFDA to join the said expo in Davao City. This year's event is themed “Pamahalaan at Mamamayan: Kapit-bisig sa Kaunlaran at Pagbabago”.

The Trade fair aims to inform the masses of the government agencies' and instrumentalities' products, services, targets and accomplishments.

The event was participated by various government agencies including Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Trade Industry (DTI) and Department of Tourism (DOT).

Meanwhile, the Mr. Daniel C. Guillen, Chairperson and President of Kabisig Mindanao Foundation, Inc. encouraged the public to visit the expo to know more about the services that may be availed and may be used by the people.

The PFDA exhibit booth was led by the DFPC Focal Person for Market Promotions Christine Angelique F. Bisquera and was assisted by other DFPC personnel, namely: Mr. Norlito A. Duero, Grace Fernandez, Ms. Lynneth S. Flores, Mr. Barry Jay A. Limbaga and Teresa T. Jaducana.  (Christine Angelique F. Bisquera)

     The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) is a participant of the ongoing International Food Exhibition dubbed as “IFEX Philippines” starting May 25 to 27, 2018 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, with the theme: “The Best of the Seas”.

     IFEX Philippines is the country’s biggest international trade exhibition and one of the best showcases of the Philippines and Asia’s ethnic and specialty food, tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectionary products, meat and poultry, Halal-certified products as well as natural, organic and healthy food products.

     PFDA plays a major role in the development of the fishing industry and provides efficient service in the supply and delivery of high quality of fish and fishery products to consumers in line with this year’s theme. (Henry A. Umil, Jr.)

“We Make Change Work for Women” is this year’s theme until 2022, highlighting the empowerment of women as active contributors and claimholders of progress. This pursuit of development under the Duterte administration is also anchored on the commitment of “Malasakit at Pagbabago” or True Compassion and Real Change, vis-a-vis emphasizes that women should be active drivers in bringing about positive changes which can be made possible by empowering and enabling them to engage with other development stakeholders.

The month long activities include the kick-off for Central Office employees dancing to the tune of “Juana Ikaw na ang Manguna”, ZFPC participating on the Dia De Las Mujeres in partnership with the LGU, CFP joining the DA Family with their Zumba Dance at Legaspi City, GSFPC and DFPC held parades with their respective DA Regional Offices. Purple Day was also observed every Thursday by wearing the advocacy shirts for the celebration. Gender sensitive films were likewise shown at the Central Office in two batches on March 13 & 23 with the movie titles, “Thy Womb” and “The Proposal”. Soft copy of briefer on RA 9262 known as Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children was also sent to the Regional Fish Ports (RFPs) GAD Focal, for reproduction and dissemination and LFPC’s version of the said briefer was then distributed to their clientele. (Au C. Atanacio)

PFDA-General Santos Fish Port Complex in partnership with the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing Associations & Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) launched the PRice EStimate of Unloading or PRES-U last March 22, 2018 at the Market Hall I, GSFPC.  PFDA General Manager Glen Pangapalan with the City Mayor, Hon.  Ronnel C. Rivera formally launched the project with the cutting of the ribbon witnessed by the Vice Mayor Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles, SFFAII Executive Director Rosanna Contreras and PM Jose Abarquez.

PRES-U is a price watch initiative by PFDA and SFFAII which aims to promote transparency in the marketplace.  It is a daily price monitoring system captured from the Fish Unloading transactions of Fish Port market clients at Market Trading Halls1 to 3.  The prices will be displayed at TV monitors installed at Markets 1, 2 & 3 showing the species, quality and high/low price.  The system can also be used for the Port’s IEC as it is capable of disseminating video presentations for announcements and advisories among others. 

SFFAII donated the 50-inch TV monitors while GSFPC will set-up and maintain the program for PRES-U.

The launching was attended by other city officials, representatives from BFAR and other government agencies as well as the major stakeholders of GSFPC.  An informal dialogue with GM Glen was held after the launching program. (Fritzie Leviste)

     PFDA General Manager, Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan led the Inaugural Blessing and Turn-over Ceremony of Panabo City Fish Port to the Local Government of Panabo City. Receiving the facilities on behalf of the LGU were Panabo City Mayor James Gamao, other local officials and fish traders.

     The construction of the fish port, which is located in Brgy. Cangangohan, Panabo City, Davao Del Norte, was funded by the Nationwide Fish Port Development – Poorest of the Poor Program. The establishment of the port aims to increase productivity and income of the fisherfolk in the City and contiguous municipalities through the provision of an adequate fish landing facilitysupported by an efficient fish handling system that allows convenient unloading and more efficient flow of fish from catchers to traders and consumers.  The improved fish handling and distribution system will result to better quality of fish in the region.

     The operationalization of Panabo City Fish Port would not only cater to the unloading of marine fish species from the Davao Gulf, which has an estimated daily unloading of 0.82 MT, but also service the unloading and sorting of fish being landed and produced in 330 fish cages currently operating in the Mariculture Park in Panabo City which is managed by the DA/BFAR.  The mariculture zone has an estimated daily unloading of 16.23MT of cultured fish.Marine species being unloaded at the Port includes moonfish, goatfish, swordtail, slipmouth and sardinella species while the aquaculture species raised in the fish cages consist of milkfish and rabbit fish (danggit).

      The components of the fish port project include fish landing and trading/sorting facilities, parking area, administration office, storage room, comfort room, power, water and sewerage systems, a perimeter fence, gate and guard house. (Henry Umil, Jr./M.T.Francisco)

     The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) inaugurated two new municipal fish ports in February 2018. PFDA General Manager Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan led the Turn-over Ceremony of the Sindangan Municipal Fish Port in Brgy. Siare, Sindangan Zamboanga Del Norte on Feb 01, 2018 to local government officials led by Mayor Nilo Sy, Vice Mayor Bess Jagonio and other municipal and barangay officials. Special guests of honor during the ceremony were Cong. Glo Labadlabad and BFAR IX Regional Director Sid Velayo.

     The Sindangan Municipal Fish Port was built in an area of about 1,600 sqm that used to be the traditional fish landing area in the municipality. The Port’s facilities includes: revetment cap and stairlanding, trading hall, an administrative office, public comfort rooms, ice stalls, and guard house.  Structures for utilities included a drainage and sewerage system, an outside water distribution system, outside electrical system and concrete pavement.

     These facilities are designed to accommodate the volume of fish unloading in the municipality, estimated at 7 MT daily which represent 30% of the total fish production of Sindangan. There are a total of 1,635 fishing bancas operating in the major fishing grounds of Sulu Sea, Sindangan Bay and Siari Bay that are expected to benefit from the fish port.

     Likewise, the Kiamba Municipal Fish Port located at Brgy. Poblacion, Kiamba, Sarangani was turned-over to the Local Government Unit (LGU) on February 08, 2018.  Gracing the ceremony were PFDA General Manager Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manuel Piñol, Senator Manny Pacquiao, Governor Steve Chiongbion Solon and Mayor Raul Martinez of Kiamba. 

     The construction of the said fishport was undertaken by PFDA in an area measuring 3,600 sq. m in the coastal area of the Poblacion.  There are 727 fishing bancas operating in Kiamba, 82 are classified as commercial fishing vessels (17 ringnet and 65 tuna catchers) and 645 municipal bancas.  The dominant species caught by the commercial fishermen include galunggong, matambaka, pusit, bariles and salmon; while the municipal fishermen produce pusit, matambaka, pirit and tulingan. The total marine production of Kiamba is estimated at 31.37 MT per day, with an estimated fish unloading in the area of 8.80 MT per day.

     These two newly operationalized fish ports will provide modern post-harvest facilities that will enhance fisheries livelihood opportunities for the fisherfolk in the said municipalities while at the same time enabling improvement in the quality of their catch. The newly constructed ports were funded by the Nationwide Fish Port Development – Poorest of the Poor Program. (Henry Umil, Jr/M.T. Francisco)