Fish is one of the staple food sources of our countrymen. Small scale capture fisherfolk (people who fish in the open) or aquaculture groups produce a large portion of local fish sources. Unfortunately, many of them face a constant struggle to sustain their livelihood. It is therefore an existential imperative that they be empowered to ensure their survival. Yet, very few people know of the plight of the folks who fish for a living. Recently, former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Nestor Domenden who now heads the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), invited me to a meeting with some groups of fisherfolk and officials of Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (MFARMC). FARMCs in every city, municipality and barangays abutting municipal waters, bays, lakes, rivers and dams were created by law to encourage participation by small fisherfolk and small- scale fisheries owner associations in plans and actual project implementation affecting their industry. Standard protocol in government is that projects that assist the small fisherfolk be coursed through member associations of the FARMCs.

Lauengco, G. J. D. (2022, December 22). Empowering folks who fish. Daily Guardian, pp. 4, 5.