The 54th Fish Conservation Week Celebration of BFAR Caraga

commenced with a flag ceremony and reciting of the Panunumpa ng

Pangangalaga ng Pangisdaan at Yamang-Tubig

BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES-CARAGA·MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2017

Featuring the colorful, commodity-inspired floats of the Provincial Fisheries Offices of BFAR Caraga.

One of the highlights of this year's Fish Conservation Week celebration is the commodity-inspired float parade which features the abundant aquamarine endowments of Caraga region.

The formal launching of the week-long celebration was held yesterday at the Capitol Covered Court, Capitol Drive, Butuan City as the floats arrived at the venue.

To give honor to our sincere, humble fisherfolk, the Bureau thru the Municipal Agriculture Offices has encouraged them to join the Regional "Balak" Competition which was purely designed for the fisherfolk in recognition of their efforts as front-liners in providing food for our tables particularly on the fisheries sector.

Fisherfolk were able to express much of their gratitude to the Bureau for the continued support and adhere to uphold the conservation and management measures of DA-BFAR.

Chorale Singing Competition was also held right after the Balak. It was participated by the different associations coming from the five provinces of the region.

The celebration of the 54th Fish Conservation Week was a delightful experience for the employees of BFAR Caraga as they actively participated and enjoyed the conduct of the Laro ng Lahi last Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 at the Capitol Covered Court, Capitol Drive, Butuan City. Participants were grouped into colors based on their respective offices; the PFOs and FLDTs composed the Black Team; Training Division and FishCORAL Project were linked as the Yellow Team; FAD as the Red Team; FPSSD as the Green Team; FMRED, RFHL, Quarantine and NIFEP were grouped as the Blue Team; Stations and Multi-Species Hatchery as the Pink Team; and the NSAP as the Mint Green Team.

The day ended with the dinner that was served in a military manner, "boodle fight".

In support of biodiversity conservation, poverty alleviation and food sufficiency, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Caraga Region has officially launched the Balik Sigla Sa Ilog at Lawa (BASIL) Program thru the dispersal of fingerlings last Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 held simultaneously at Mainit, Surigao del Norte and Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.

The BASIL Program is one of the priority programs of DA-BFAR. It aims to rehabilitate the physical conditions of all lakes, reservoirs, and rivers systems in the country. It further aims to enhance the inland fisheries and repopulate indigenous species to support the lives of the inland fisherfolk.

This program brings opportunity for the region to expand the development of its inland fisheries sector.

Yesterday, Oct. 18, 2017, the employees of BFAR Caraga separately headed to Buenavista, Agusan del Norte and Nasipit, Agusan del Norte to conduct coastal clean-up and filmshowing activities in celebration of the 54th Fish Conservation Week.

Regional Director Dr. Juan Albaladejo and Assistant Regional Director Edgardo Balambao led the activity for Buenavista and Nasipit, respectively.

The activity was sponsored and facilitated by the Fisheries, Coastal Resource, and Livelihood (FishCORAL) Project headed by Regional Project Manager, Loida Arreglado.

BFAR Caraga employees and the fisherfolk shared breakfast after the activity.

To discover the creativity and ingenuity of the students in Caraga, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Regional Office conducted an On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest held yesterday, Oct.18, 2017 at the Capitol Covered Court, Capitol Drive, Butuan City.

A total of 38 students joined the competition and discussed their masterpiece in front of Regional Director, Dr. Juan Albaladejo.

Three entries bested other 35 artworks, among them were Rafaella Utrera of Caraga State University-Senior High School; Christian Ardy Montes of Saint Michael College of Caraga; Jay L. Guimary of Cantilan National High School.

The Top 3 finalist will be awarded tomorrow at the Prince Hotel Convention Center on the Culmination Program of the 54th Fish Conservation Week Celebration.

On the 4th day of the celebration of the 54th Fish Conservation Week, BFAR Caraga has searched for the best singer among employees as it conducted a Solo Singing Competition dubbed as the "Tawag ng Tanghalan sa BFAR", last Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017 at the Capitol Covered Court, Capitol Drive, Butuan City.

Entries were from the different offices of the Bureau. Nikki Sarah Ario, the M&E Assistant of FishCORAL Project won the competition.

It was, indeed, a proof that the Bureau is blessed with talented employees.

In support to Coastal Resource Management Program, the Bureau conducted a mangrove propagules planting activity spearheaded by Regional Director, Dr. Juan Albaladejo and Assistant Regional Director, Edgardo Balambao held last Oct. 19, 2017 in the afternoon to restore the mangrove areas of Sta. Ana, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

The employees of the Bureau worked together as one as they prepared stakes for the propagules to ensure its high survival and delightfully planted the seedlings with hopes to make the ecosystem greener in the next years.

The said activity was supported by the Fisheries, Coastal Resource, and Livelihood (FishCORAL) Project of BFAR Caraga, under the CRM component of the said project.

Last Friday, Oct. 20, 2017 was remarkably one of the best days for the fisherfolk of Barangays: Masao, Lumbocan, Maog and Pinamanculan, as BFAR Caraga formally turned-over 20-footer fibreglass boats with complete accessories to 200 registered fisherfolk of Butuan City held at Barangay Masao Covered Court.

The distribution of the fibreglass boats was spearheaded by the Regional Director of BFAR Caraga, Dr. Juan Albaladejo together with the Regional Executive Director of DA-Caraga, Dr. Abel James Monteagudo, Congressman Laurence Lemeul Fortun, and Joseph Omar Andaya, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.

The FB Pagbabago Program or the "Fibreglass Boats for Change" is one of the thrust programs of the Department of Agriculture under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to support the livelihood fishing activities of the marginalized fisherfolk thru providing them with good quality boats that will last for years.

The program seeks to support the realization of the country’s long-term vision for sustainable development.

The celebration of the 54th Fish Conservation Week was successfully concluded at the Prince Hotel Convention Center, Butuan City last Friday, Oct. 20, 2017.

The Bureau formally awarded the winners of the different competitions undertaken during the observance of the weeklong celebration; such as the Balak, Chorale Singing, Poster-Making, Solo Singing, Laro ng Lahi, and Best Float Contest.

For the Best Float, the Provincial Fisheries Office of Dinagat Islands won as first placer followed by Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur as second and third placers, respectively.

For the Balak Contest, Gregorio Satago of Buenavista, Agusan del Norte won as first placer and recevied 5,000 pesos, followed Ruben Timogan of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte and Antonio Piloton of Tubajon, Dinagat Islands as second and third placers, with prizes of 3,000 pesos and 2,000 pesos respectively including a 20-footer Fibreglass Boat with complete accessories for all the participants.

For the Chorale Singing Contest, Bislig City was proclaimed as first placer and received 30,000 pesos, followed by Cortes, Surigao del Sur and Surigao City as second and third placers and received 20,000 pesos and 10,000 pesos, respectively including a 30-footer Fiberglass Boat with complete accessories for each group and a one (1) unit 20-footer Fiberglass Boat with complete accessories for the non-winners.

For the Solo Singing Compettion, Nikki Sarah Ario, M&E Assitant of FishCORAL Project won the first place and received 5,000 pesos, followed by Juvel Dumagtoy, FLDT of PFO-Surigao del Sur and Ravenna Guerrero, Finance Assistant of the FishCORAL Project as second and third placers with prizes of 3,000 and 2,000 pesos respectively.

For the Poster Making Contest, Christian Ardy Montes of Saint Michael College of Caraga won as first placer and received 20,000 pesos; followed by Rafaella Utrera of Caraga State University-Senior High School as second placer and received 15,000 pesos and Jay Guimary of Cantilan National High School as third placer and received 10,000 pesos. Non-winners were also given a consolation prize of 1,000 pesos.

Awardees of the Search for the Most Outstanding Coastal Community for MMK Program were also recognized. The Municipality of Cortes, Surigao del Sur was hailed as the regional winner and received a prize amounting to 3 million worth of projects, followed by the Municipality of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur as second placer and received a prize amounting to 2 million worth of projects and the Municipality of Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte as third placer and received a prize amounting to 1.5 million worth of projects.

A special performance from one of the Top finalists of The Voice Teens, Mica Becerro graced the culmination program of the Bureau's 54th Fish Conservation Week Celebration. Mica wowed everyone as she rendered her powerful and soulful rendition of songs she performed during her The Voice journey. On her speech, the classical singer thanked the Bureau (BFAR) for inviting her and being able to perform in Butuan City for the very first time.