Lupon Gets New Fish Landing Hub

DAVAO ORIENTAL—In celebration of National Fisherfolks Day on May 31, 2017, and to improve the fisheries sector, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recently turned over a Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC) to the Municipal Government of Lupon. Lupon Municipal Mayor Erlinda Lim thanked the BFAR, saying that the said project will benefit thousands of fisherfolks here, especially the Lupon Fisherfolk Association which is composed of four villages namely: Bagumbayan, Poblacion, Macangao, and Ilangay.

Started on October 2016, the project that cost Php 2,679,621.57, will serve as hub for fish landing and auction. In addition, the CFLC will also serve as a venue for skills development training in post-harvest, value-adding and fishery conservation and resource management of the fishing community in Lupon. Atty. Glen Pangapalan, General Manager of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, urged the residents to support the program of BFAR against illegal fishing. He said that it will back their scheduled 2018 feasibility study to gain funding from the National Government in expanding the Fish Landing into a Lupon Port in year 2019 which is poised to spur local economic activity in the province as it can dock 1,000-metric tons fishing vessels.

Ednar Dayanghirang, Chief of Staff of the Provincial Governor’s Office, who represented Governor Nelson Dayanghirang during the ceremonial turn-over, said that “this is one of the strategies to empower the fishery sector towards improving their economic status.” He added that the fish landing center will not only benefit the fisheries sector but also the women’s sector that will facilitate in trading and processing of fish products such as dried fish, among many others.

Meanwhile, Fatma Idris, Regional Director of BFAR XI, has commended Lupon coastline’s clean waters and has challenged the residents, the local government, and the coast guards to aim for the national award of having the cleanest coastal area. (with Riza M. Golez)