BFAR-Kalinga trains Tanudan residents on aqua-culture to boost livelihood and strengthen food security; 7 barangays to benefit

Tanudan – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Kalinga has extended its technical expertise on fishpond establishment and rehabilitation to beneficiaries of the Risk Resiliency Program Project LAWA at BINHI of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Tanudan.

Based on a letter sent by the DSWD to the Office of the Provincial Governor, the initiative aims to strengthen disaster resiliency and climate change adaptation awareness among families and communities in Kalinga.

Aside from providing temporary cash-for-training opportunities to residents, the program also seeks to equip communities with sustainable livelihood knowledge by integrating traditional and indigenous practices with technical interventions for long-term community development.

While the DSWD leads the implementation of the project, BFAR-Kalinga was tapped to train beneficiaries in fish culture and fishpond management.

Other partner offices include the Office of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, which provides education on climate change adaptation, disaster preparedness, and risk mitigation, as well as the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, which offers guidance on gardening and climate-resilient farming practices.

Under the activity schedule, Tanudan was allotted three batches covering seven barangays from May 19 to 28. The first batch, conducted from May 19 to 21, included beneficiaries from the barangays of Dupligan, Mabaca, and Upper Taloctoc, with 50 target participants from each barangay.

Another set of beneficiaries from Poblacion, Lower Mangali, Mangali Centro, and Gaang is scheduled to undergo training from May 25 to 26, also with 50 participants per barangay.

Prior to the Tanudan rollout, similar training activities were conducted in Tinglayan from May 12 to 14, benefiting residents from Belong-Manubal, Sumadel 1, Sumadel 2, Tulgao East, Tulgao West, Dananao, and Ngibat.

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera on May 21, Clifford Fernandez, Officer-in-Charge Provincial Fisheries Officer, said BFAR’s participation in the program reflects the agency’s commitment to helping communities develop sustainable food sources and livelihood opportunities.

Fernandez emphasized that beyond technical knowledge on fishpond management, BFAR also hopes beneficiaries will gain practical livelihood skills that can sustain their families and communities even after the program concludes.

“Through this initiative of the DSWD, we want the beneficiaries to understand that fishpond development is not only for livelihood but also for the food security of the community. Through proper training and guidance, we hope they can maximize the available resources in their barangays and sustain these projects in the long run,” Fernandez said.