The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) regional office 9 hosted DA-BFAR’s Orientation and Review of the Safeguard Documents (ESMF and SEP) through Blue Horizon: Ocean Relief Through Seaweed Aquaculture at Barangay Aplaya, Buenavista, Zamboanga City, March 13, 2024.

The project will involve the expansion of production in offshore areas assessed as suitable for farming in compliance with all regulations and available technology, knowledge, and guidance and capacitate farmers to increase production and better quality. The project will also support the seaweed value chains such as the establishment of village-level seaweed processing plants to produce fertilizer, feeds, and food of which BFAR Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program (EPSDP), BFAR RO 9 and Aplaya Buenavista Seaweed Farmers Association will be the project implementors. It is funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and will be executed in partnership with SEAFDEC, BFAR, and the Department of Fisheries of Viet Nam. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-US will serve as the GEF Implementing Agency for the Project which will cover the duration from 2024-2028.

The activity featured a lecture and discussion presented by Mr. Demosthenes Togonon, BFAR-EPSDP Focal Person, on the rationale and overview of the project. He discussed the project’s goals, objectives, and benefits, as well as the four components that the said project will deliver. Following Mr. Togonon’s presentation, Mr. Wilfredo Fajardo, Sr. Community Development Officer, and Ms. Mercy Faburada, Environmental and Safeguard Specialist, gave a brief overview of the Blue Horizon –Ocean Relief through Seaweed Aquaculture, Environmental and Social Safeguard. They discussed the project’s environmental and social standard measures that will be put in place to ensure that the project is carried out in a safe, ethical, and sustainable manner.

Mr. Muhaimin S. Maharail, Provincial Fishery Officer/Regional Seaweed Coordinator with the assistance of Dr. Bonifacio M. Duterte, Jr., City Fishery Officer, Zamboanga City, and staff facilitated the said activity which was graced by Mr. Jay Vincent C. Caloyloy, Chairman, Barangay Buenavista with Mr. Nanih Hakim, Mf. Omar Majid, Barangay Officials, Mr. Tahsin Tulawi, Mr. Nurin Ismael, Barangay Muti Officials, Dr. Godofredo T. Oliveria, Chief, Fisheries Division, LGU-OCA, Zamboanga City, Mr. Aison Dalinsog, Assistant Agricultural Field Officer, LGU-OCA, Ms. Analiza Salili, Fisheries Coordinator, LGU-OCA, Mr. Isnari Cala, President, Aplaya Buenavista Seaweed Farmers Association, Ms. Arcelita A. Andaya, PFO, Zamboanga del Norte, Mr. Raffy Adeltone N. Tan, PFO, Zamboanga del Sur and Mr. Robert O. Aporado, CFO, Isabela City.

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