Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, October 7, 2024 – The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Program (DA-PRDP) Caraga has approved a PHP 242 million project aimed at boosting the tuna industry in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. The project, which includes cold chain facilities to enhance tuna consolidation and marketing, is expected to significantly improve the livelihoods of local fisherfolk and strengthen the region’s fishing industry.
In a statement released Monday, the DA-13 announced that the project will be funded through the PRDP Scale-Up and implemented under its I-REAP (Investments in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity) program. The Mangagoy Farmers Fisherfolk and Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MAFFISCO-MPC) will oversee the implementation of the project, which was approved by the DA-PRDP Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) on October 4.
Lynn Parenas, head of the PRDP’s I-REAP component in Caraga, emphasized the importance of the project not only for Surigao del Sur but for the entire region. “This is a significant subproject as it employs an interprovincial approach under the Scale-Up program, which will benefit tuna producers across multiple provinces,” Parenas said.
The project aims to provide small-scale fisherfolk with access to modern cold chain facilities, allowing them to preserve the quality of their tuna catch and diversify their product offerings. This will address critical gaps in the supply chain, particularly in fish processing and storage, which have historically limited the competitiveness of the region’s tuna industry.
MAFFISCO-MPC General Manager Rho Cougee Garrido welcomed the project’s approval, calling it a “catalyst for the development of the tuna industry in Bislig and across Surigao del Sur.” Garrido also highlighted the project’s potential to expand operations throughout the region, creating more opportunities for local fisherfolk and enhancing the overall economic outlook of the fishing sector.
The Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB), chaired by DA-13 Director Arlan Mangelen, is tasked with reviewing and approving all regional PRDP subprojects. Mangelen reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that will improve agricultural productivity and rural enterprises, noting that this project could serve as a model for future endeavors aimed at strengthening the fishing industry in other parts of the Philippines.
The Tuna Consolidation and Marketing with Cold Chain Facilities project is expected to play a key role in addressing the challenges faced by the local tuna industry, enabling the region to tap into broader markets and improve the economic standing of its fishing communities.
