BFAR hands 8th fish landing 

hub to Talibon fisher groups

TAGBILARAN CITY, October 19 (PIA)--Getting to the core issue of expensive fish in Bohol markets, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) continues to build market linkage and post harvest production process in support of fishermen in an effort to get them landing their fish here than in Cebu. 

BFAR turned over after the blessing rites, October 18, the Talibon Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC) which now becomes a main hub for island fishermen trading their catch and getting appropriate technologies for sustainable fisheries. 

BFAR 7 Regional Director Allan Poquita, a Boholano and who is now based in Cebu shared that fish price in Bohol may be expensive because of the lack of processing facilities which forces fishers to land their catch in Cebu which has enough processors to salvage catch which is not bought on the day. 

"Fish from Inabanga to Pitogo are landed in Pasil, Cebu and vendors from the Visayas but from these to bring them to Bohol, with added cost of transportation, plus, tourists are still willing to pay for the expensive fish, so we have a problem," Director Poquita told fishers and peoples' organization members at the blessing and turn-over ceremonies in Talibon. 

The fish prices here could go as much as double the price of fish in Cebu, even if the fish were harvested in Bohol waters, complains a consumer who said he and his family could be deprived of their protein requirements if nothing is done about the issue. 

The past month, a raging debate burned on Bohol radio air-lanes, with at least a key politician in Bohol revealing of a presence of a fish cartel here. 

BFAR is trying to mitigate this problem with the CFLC, Poquita said during the turn-over of the P3 million facility that would be operated by fishermen's organization. 

This may not directly bring the fish price down, but it lends us a little control in the way fish are bought and sold, the Clarin born regional director said. 

Moreover, the LGU also hopes the facility would finally unite the three fish landing sites in San Francisco alone, Talibon Mayor Restituto Auxtero said. 

The 8th of the facilities to be built for the 14 coastal towns which have excelled in BFAR program implementation, the CFLC in San Francisco Talibon aims to unite the landing of the town's fish caught. 

Problems of not being able to sell or preserve the catch they haul for the day makes it easier to sell it to Cebu where the fish products are sold immediately. 

Offering now an option for Talibon fishers, the BFAR and the Local Government collaborate and put up the CFLC where fishermen themselves can sell their catch, then ice them, process them or put them in storage. 

During the turn-over, BFAR also revealed that the package includes two chest freezers, stainless display counters, a two storey building with a rooftop designed for other functions: to dry fish, mend nets, meet with groups and simply allow fishermen to gaze out and while away time. 

This building can be used as meeting area, training center, disaster rehabilitation center and area for hygiene trainings for fish handlers, Poquita said. 

Mayor Auxtero personally accepted the facility even as he assured the government that the LGU would help sustain the facility as this helps big in their resource management program. 

Talibon sits in the middle of Danajon Double Barrier Reef, the seas there proving to be with most abundant biodiversity of fish and marine resources including their prime products: the swimming blue crabs and the seaweeds. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Something to raise your hands up to, BFAR 7 Regional Director Allan Poquita congratulates the fisherfolks of Talibon who have opened their new Community Fish landing Facility in San Francisco. Both BFAR and LGU Talibon joined resources to put up the facility to bring fish prices down. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Local officials took the moment to show off the new CFLC facility in Talibon. Here are BFAR Bohol PAFCO Leo Bongalos, Talibon VM Cleto Garcia, Cong Aris rep Donglee Camacho, OPG Dir Wendell Cabrera, mayor Restituto Auxtero, BFAR7 Allan Poquita, Gov Chatto rep Ariel Lungay, BFAR and Local officials. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)