Northern Samar town groomed as major agri-fishery hub
MANILA, Philippines – A coastal community in Eastern Visayas is envisioned to become a major fishery hub following the distribution of more than P300 million in cash and in-kind assistance in Northern Samar.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed various interventions and financial assistance to farmers and fisherfolk in the town of Mapanas to help boost their incomes and support rural development.
READ: Eastern Visayas farmers, fishers get fuel access boost
“We are here with a clear purpose: to transform Mapanas into a premier agri-fishery hub in Eastern Visayas,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
“Your rich coastal waters have immense potential as a rising powerhouse for tuna and high-value deep-sea commercial fishing, while your fertile soils are uniquely primed for high-value crop production,” he added.
They received P4.7 million worth of agricultural interventions, such as quality seeds, farm inputs and equipment, while over 2,000 qualified beneficiaries received cash assistance through the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. provided P293 million worth of crop and fishery insurance, safeguarding local producers against typhoons, flooding and other climate-related risks that frequently affect agricultural communities in Northern Samar.
The DA handed over abaca stripping machines worth P1.2 million to help mechanize fiber processing, improve product quality and increase earnings for local abaca growers.
Tiu Laurel likewise vowed to support the municipality’s tuna industry to improve their livelihood. These include installing a solar-powered ice plant with a capacity of 10,000 kilograms and providing light boats by the end of the year to ensure continuous fishing.
“There is also a request for a modular solar-powered cold storage that can store fish, meat and vegetables, which we will send here. That is what we can offer for now,” he added.
In response to rising living costs, the DA rolled out the subsidized rice program to give immediate relief, particularly to vulnerable sectors and registered farmers and fisherfolk. INQ
