Tinglayan and Pasil fisherfolk to get P.7M aid

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Fisherfolk in two municipalities in Kalinga will soon benefit from over P700,000 worth of aquatic assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The distribution of said aid, which is under phase 2 of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program, is tentatively scheduled from June to July 2025. 

Launched in 2023 by the Department of Agriculture, SAAD aims to reduce poverty and boost food production by providing livelihood support to farmers and fisherfolk nationwide. 

Phase 1 of the program focuses on poverty reduction, while Phase 2 focuses on production and sustainability to ensure enough supply of food in the country. 

Overall, the program targets 619 municipalities in 56 provinces (excluding the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), focusing on the poorest areas in the country until 2028. 

Under the program, BFAR-Kalinga, for their part, said they will distribute 43 units of livelihood assistance to two fisherfolk associations in Tinglayan and Pasil.

The beneficiaries are the Balatoc Fisherfolk Association, to be given 23 units, and the Tinglayan’s Suma Fisherfolk and Farmers Association (20 units), amounting to P770,000. 

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, BFAR-Kalinga Provincial Fishery Officer Joyce M. Ducyogen expressed hope that before the program ends, the beneficiaries will be capable of managing their community-based enterprise independently following the provision of resources and training. 

“By the end of 2028, magba-bye na ang SAAD Phase 2, hopefully—ti goal na diyay ket nagbalin dan nga community-based enterprise and they could stand alone. Kasi may training components yan every year hanggang production to marketing, leadership, bookkeeping, values, and transformation—andun lahat ng mga trainings na kaliangan nila,” Ducyogen said.