Mati CFLC opens

The opening of the Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC) in Barangay Mayo in Mati, Davao Oriental is expected to provide more opportunities for the fisherfolk in the area. 

“The fisherfolk will be able to bring their fish harvest in a clean facility where the fish will kept clean and fresh,” Benjamin F. S. Tabios, Jr., assistant director for administrative services of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said during the launch and blessing of the facility.

The P2.85-million CFLC is the first in the Davao Region, and four more are under construction in the municipalities of Lupon, Banaybanay, Boston, and Governor Generoso, all in Davao Oriental. 

BFAR has allocated P42 million for at least 15 CFLCs in the Davao Region in 2016. A total of 252 CFLCs nationwide were included in the government’s 2015 budget, and majority are now under construction.

For this year, 271 have been lined up, and about the same number are planned for 2017. BFAR aims to put up CFLCs near or in 928 coastal cities and municipalities across the country.

“The CFLCs will be established in strategic areas nationwide, particularly in fisherfolk communities with high poverty incidence, with the goal of promoting inclusive growth in one of the country’s poorest sectors,” BFAR Davao Region Director Fatma M. Idris said.

Idris said the facilities are seen to help bring down post-harvest losses in the fisheries sector to 18% from the present 25%, under BFAR’s umbrella program, Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET).

Aside from the CFLCs, the two other major components of TARGET are the fisherfolk registration and boat registration projects.

BFAR National Director Asis G. Perez earlier said the CFLC sites were determined using the fisherfolk database and the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture of the Department of Budget and Management, with the assistance of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Tabios said all the CFLCs will have similar costs, but there will be three basic design options, depending on the community’s requirements.

The centers are also intended as multi-purpose buildings that can be used for skills and livelihood training, or even as a tourist attraction.

“This is especially true for the CFLC in Barangay Mayo, which could be a good tourist attraction because of its ideal location just along the shore,” he said.

Erlinda D. Ali, BFAR provincial fisheries officer in Davao Oriental, said the Mayo CFLC will initially be run by the local government, but members of the community will be trained to eventually take over the management.

Mayo Barangay Chairman Noel V. Alo, for his part, said they are committed to “nurture the project” and will make use of the center to come up with other projects that will benefit the fishing community.