BFAR: fishpond rental

condone plea in DBM

TAGBILARAN CITY Bohol, May 18 (PIA)— Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has forwarded the request for condonation of lease of fishponds from a group of Boholano fishpond operators to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), for appropriate action.

This is according to BFAR Bohol fisheries regulations officer Jona Rhen Lafuente, speaking at the recent Kapihan sa PIA streamed live at PIA Bohol facebook and youtube channels and aired over DyTR AM, Fridays at 4:00-5:00 PM.

Asked about an update on the request of Boholano fishpond operators as endorsed by Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado to the bureau, Lafuente said BFAR has also forwarded the request to the agency which has the power and jurisdiction to grant or deny the request.

Fish ponds, especially when these are in formerly mangrove areas, forest lands and swamps released by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA/BFAR) or by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for fishpond purposes, need a Fishpond Lease Agreement (FLA) to be legally utilized for aquaculture.

The lease, between P500 to P1000 per hectare, has to be paid, failure of such would also incur surcharges.

It may be recalled that last year, after feeling the brunt of typhoon Odette which washed out most of Bohol’s aquaculture, fishpond operators sought for Sangguniang Panlalawigan help to intercede for them seeking for 5-year condonation of rental payments, permits and licenses.

Fishpond operators who have to rehabilitate or revamp their fish enclosures washed out by the storm surges brought by Odette, have sought for leniency in their fees and permits.

Bohol Fish Producers’ Cooperative through its secretary Crestito Garcia has pleaded through governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado to represent them to the secretary of the DA, which has BFAR under its administrative control.

It is unfortunate that the BFAR has no power to grant on the request but the DBM [who has the power], so it has to be endorsed for proper action, Lafuente said.

At this, BFAR authorities also said that the aquaculture industry in Bohol has yet to fully recover.

The huge production gap left by failed aquaculture has partly caused the lack of fish in Bohol markets.

Moreover, the long dry spell and the extreme heat it has generated, has adversely affected the few fishponds that were able to recover.

An agricultural damage report from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) bared that the EL Nino has wreaked a total of P218 million, inclusive of agri-fisheries.

The damage figure could in fact still increase as that involves only 22 of Bohol’s 47 towns and a city, shared Provincial agriculturist Liza Quirog. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

TO THE PROPER AGNECY. BFAR Jona Rhen Lafuente said the fisheries agency has forwarded the plea for a 5-year condonation of rentals, payments and fees including surcharges to allow the fishermen to recover and rehabilitate their fishponds. (PIABohol)