Visayas business organizations draft policies to maintain fishery project longevity
Fishin' for Sustainability: Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) in the Visayas region are readying policy proposals to keep the FISH Visayas Project's momentum going. The project has brought substantial transformation to coastal communities across Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor.
Running from July 2020 to June 2025, the project has leveraged tech, innovation, and leadership to uplift fisherfolk and modernize their practices. With the project nearing its end, BMOs are focused on ensuring its lasting impact.
The project has been a collaborative effort, bringing on board chambers of commerce, BMOs, fisherfolk associations, nine municipalities, and various local governments. Yvette Hope Labus, project manager, highlighted the initiative's collaborative nature. "By uniting stakeholders across Central Visayas, we've made sure our interventions make a real impact," she said.
In terms of capacity building, the project has conducted extensive training workshops, seminars, and learning visits. These programs have boosted the technical and leadership skills of fisherfolk, equipping them to transition from traditional fishing to improved livelihood practices.
Appreciating the project's core objective, Brian Araneta, Bohol's area coordinator, noted, "The project's main goal has always been to empower fisherfolk organizations." Skills training in modern fishing methods and alternative livelihoods, such as fishnet mending, construction, and fiberglass fabrication, have offered fisherfolk income diversification options during poor weather conditions.
The project has also emphasized partnerships with local governments, national agencies like the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and BMOs in selected areas. Trainings have covered a broad range of topics, from sustainable aquaculture to digital marketing.
On the ground, the Fish Visayas project has empowered thousands of individuals in Cebu, with tangible results evident in various communities. For instance, a mechanical dryer was donated to fisherfolk associations in Bantayan, Cebu, to improve the quality of their dried fish products. In Cordova, Cebu, a 60-square-meter Bangus Fish Pen was provided to a local organization to support aquaculture.
An essential aspect of the project has been marine resource protection. The project has facilitated the turnover of FRP boats to fisherfolk associations and local government units for enhanced monitoring efforts, and donated equipment like the Furuno DRS4W Radar to strengthen marine sanctuary protection in Bantayan. The project has also conducted training on sustainable fishing practices and established community-based Bantay Dagat groups to combat illegal fishing.
BMOs are now shooting for the stars, formulating policy recommendations that address systemic challenges in the Visayas fisheries sector. By focusing on areas such as market access, technology adoption, climate-resilient practices, capacity-building programs, and policy-industry collaboration, they aim to ensure the project's legacy lives on beyond 2025.
- The government entities involved, such as the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, have been partners in the Fish Visayas project.
- The Visayas region's Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) are working on policy proposals to maintain the momentum of the FISH Visayas Project, which has significantly transformed coastal communities in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor.
- As part of the project's efforts, BMOs have been instrumental in conducting training workshops, seminars, and learning visits to build the technical and leadership skills of fisherfolk.
- In Cebu, tangible results of the project can be seen in communities, like the donation of a mechanical dryer to fisherfolk associations in Bantayan and a 60-square-meter Bangus Fish Pen to a local organization in Cordova.
- The Fish Visayas project has emphasized marine resource protection, donating boats, radar equipment, and facilitating training on sustainable fishing practices to combat illegal fishing.
- In the future, BMOs aim to ensure the project's legacy through policy recommendations that target areas like market access, technology adoption, climate-resilient practices, capacity-building programs, and policy-industry collaboration, with the goal to improve the Visayas fisheries sector beyond 2025.
