Support to fisherfolks, farmers ensure food security in Basilan

• Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1004114
• Wednesday, January 17, 2018 6:51 am

By Rene V. Carbayas (EDT/RVC/PIA9-Basilan)

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Jan 17 (PIA) -- Food security remains to be one of the top concerns of the provincial government of Basilan.

As an island province surrounded by bodies of water, the island is blessed with natural resources both on land and seas. However, recent developments reveal that climate change, population explosion, and the ongoing industrialization and technological development have depleted much of the earth’s natural resources. And this has also affected the island.

Production and domestication of food is threatened by strong winds, typhoons, flooding, and landslides because of extreme weather events brought about by climate change, which is also attributed to increased human activity.

According to recent reports, aside from facing an uphill battle in terms of agricultural and fisheries production, the Philippines is also suffering from natural-resources depletion and is struggling to contain the rapid rate of biodiversity loss.

Forest degradation caused by destructive human activities, including irresponsible agriculture, mining, logging, timber poaching and wildlife trafficking remained a big challenge for the local government.

Somehow, the presence of militant and rebels in the hinterlands may have slowed down the loss of forest and other natural resources. Unfortunately, these bandits have also engaged in illegal logging as an extra source of livelihood.

What future this situation holds to the economy of Basilan remains uncertain.

However, hope looms when Basilan Governor Jim Hataman committed to take concrete steps to address the impending food crisis. Hataman saw the need to engage all stakeholders of the fishery and aquatic resources and provide all the necessary support that these sectors need and enjoined all local chief executives and government agencies to help.

The Provincial Government of Basilan through the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)–ARMM provided continues livelihood support to fisherfolks and farmers in the province.

Governor Jim Hataman Salliman with BFAR-ARMM has recently turned-over some 101 fiberglass motorized banca at the village of Balas, Lamitan City. An initial capital of P5,000 was also given to the beneficiaries.

The first batch of 100 motorized banca was released during the First Basilan Fisheries and Aquaculture Summit in September last year. It can be recalled that during the said summit BFAR National Director Eduardo Gongona promised to support the fisheries sector in the province through the provincial government.

Meanwhile, Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay together with Miss Olivia Ablao, head of City Agriculture’s Office, distributed fishing paraphernalia to 43 beneficiaries and sets of garden tools and sprayers to 23 farmers, as part of the 20% Agriculture Banner Program of the City Government of Lamitan.

These were only some of the many engagements of the provincial government and local government units. Aside from providing livelihood support to agriculture and fisheries sectors, the province also pushes for the strict implementation of environmental laws to curb illegal fishing and logging. The provincial government also strongly encouraged municipalities and cities to maintain cleanliness and order in their respective communities with the “paglisin sin kauman project”.

The ‘paglisin sin kauman’ or the community clean-up drive is the government’s way of reminding the public that each and everyone has a role in taking care of the entire ecosystem of Basilan.

Providing livelihood support is one of the government interventions to address poverty experienced by the farmers and fisheries sectors today in the province. The government is also pursuing to educate the public in environment conservation and protection. All these are expected to contribute to the improvement of fisheries and aquatic resources in the hope that sufficient supply and harvest will ensure food security and sustainability in Basilan.