BFAR trains in dev’t

StratCom for SAAD

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)— When competing with commercial media in bringing out good stories proved to be like beating an expert in their game, field and office-based employees of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) decided to train for a different skillset, with the same aim of bringing out stories.

After a needs assessment that preludes every government capability building workshop, BFAR sought for one on Public Relations and Development Communication, Enhancing Strategic Communication, Digital Storytelling and Risk Communication in a bid to bring out the same stories media report, through a different angle of attack.

With the Philippine Information Agency and the Philippine Coast Guard handling the workshop, over 40 employees tackled development communication, enhanced communications packaging and Digital Storytelling, including disaster preparedness and risk communication

in a capacity building held at the Central Visayas Multi-Species Nursery Demonstration and Training Center (CVMNDTC), Bentig, Calape, Bohol, October 5-8, 2026.

Set for Department of Agriculture’s Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-BFAR SAAD) Program Phase 2 workers, the capacity building would be useful when these employees go to their respective assisted communities and report on the effects of the project to the individual families and communities.

Training participants include SAAD personnel from Bohol Fishery Office, from CVMNDTC, Central Bangus Hatchery in Panggangan Island Calape, Clarin Freshwater Fish Farm in Caluwasan Clarin, Ubay Brackishwater Fish Farm in Son-oc Ubay, and Ubay Multi Species Hatchery in Sinandigan, Ubay.

FRom BFAR Cebu, SAAD personnel from Cebu Provincial Fishery Office, Carmen Brackishwater Fish Farm, Lake Danao Freshwater Fish Farm in San Francisco Camotes and Cebu Multi-Species Hatchery in Kawit, Medellin

SAAD Program Phase 2 is a six-year, locally funded program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), implemented for the fisheries sector by the BFAR, designed to support for qualified fisherfolk groups in capture fisheries, aquaculture, and post-harvest activities, get livelihood support, earn skills to sustain the livelihood assistance, develop markets and build the business into sustainable income-generating enterprise, according to SAAD Cebu alternate focal person, Vincent Escobido, during a press conference.

The training should provide BFAR SAAD information teams to develop development communication plans, implement them, develop materials and effectively use these in the mainstream and new media channels, adds SAAD Bohol alternate focal Ana Liza Casquejo. (PIAbohol)

TELLING THE SAAD STORIES. Over 40 BFAR SAAD personnel trained with PIA and the PCG in development communications, strategic communications and risk communications to bring good SAAD stories to the public via conventional and new media channels. (PIAbohol)