Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Special Area for Agricultural Development (BFAR-SAAD) Phase II National 1st Quarter Physical and Financial Assessment on April 20, 2023, in Marabut, Samar.

“Celebrate endings to welcome a new beginning,” were the hopeful remarks of Director Ulysses J. Lustria, Jr. of the Department of Agriculture -Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) during the opening program of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Special Area for Agricultural Development (BFAR-SAAD) Phase II National 1st Quarter Physical and Financial Assessment on April 20, 2023, in Marabut, Samar.

Said assessment was participated by 100 national and regional DA and BFAR key implementers of the SAAD Fisheries program nationwide. It aims to closely assess and monitor its second phase, enabling them to identify the aspects and areas that are needed to be improved and developed to provide appropriate interventions and further assist target beneficiaries.

“We are gathered here to address the issues and challenges of the program implementation. We hope to foresee challenges of the future so we can recommend plans based on the result of the assessment, “exclaimed by Elymi-AR-J S. Tuñacao, National Focal Person of BFAR-SAAD NPSMO.

Inspired by the program’s huge impact on the lives of our fisherfolks during its first phase, SAAD program Phase II envisions to fulfill its promise to transform the marginalized fisherfolks into aquapreneurs and address both the existing and anticipated challenges and issues during the program’s implementation. For 2023, a total of Php486.7M is allocated to undertake social preparation activities, distribute food production and livelihood interventions, and operationalize its national and regional Project Management Offices. Withal, SAAD Phase II is set to be fulfilled within six years effecting sustainable fishing practices and creating feasible aqua-enterprise for marginalized and qualified fisherfolk beneficiaries.

Further, Mr. Norberto T. Berida, Chief of the BFAR 8 Regional Fisheries Training and Fisherfolk Coordination Division (RFTFCD) encouraged the participating national and regional program implementors to translate the words and papers of plans into effective and efficient fisheries livelihood opportunities.

On the other hand, the conduct of this national assessment was coordinated with the Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office 8 to showcase the warmth and colorful culture of Eastern Visayas to its participants. The agency is known as one of the Bureau’s remarkable allies in the promotion and realization of several fisheries programs in Eastern Visayas.

Withal, it is the third time for the BFAR Regional Office 8 to host the SAAD National Assessment since its implementation in 2017. Previous assessments have been conducted in Tacloban City and Ormoc City during the SAAD Phase I implementation.

Creating a more sustainable future for our fisherfolk communities, the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program, since its inception, hopefully, embarks on another journey of improving the lives of our fisherfolk heroes, equipping them with skills, knowledge, and input and necessary assistance to transform into successful and promising aquapreneurs.

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