BFAR 2 starts typhoon rehab

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Nov. 20 (PNA) -– The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional (BFAR) Region 2 has started the provision of rehabilitation assistance to fisherfolk in Cagayan Valley region affected by the recent typhoon "Pepeng."

BFAR-2 Disaster Action Officer and Assistant Regional Director Severina Bueno said that the fisheries agency had already served municipalities that have submitted their master list of affected fisherfolk. Bueno is calling on the other municipalities to submit the said document as soon as possible as it serves as basis and reference in releasing assistance.

As outlined in its rehab plan, the bureau will provide a total of 5.8 million pieces fingerlings for some 2,787 fish farmers affected by the calamity.

The Pepeng, which slammed into central and northern Luzon last month, has damaged a total of 1,079.95 hectares fishponds and communal production areas, 37 units fish cages, 26 units fishing boats and assorted fishing gears, mainly in the province of Cagayan.

The typhoon has devastated harvestable fish stocks estimated at 236.73 MT worth P15.39 million. A total of 7.91 million pieces fingerling and juvenile stocks were also lost during the typhoon.

The marketable stock represents 5.78 percent of region 2’s aquaculture production target for the third quarter while the non-marketable stocks represents 1,111.4 MT tons of potential production within the next two to four months.

“However, these can not be totally considered as real production losses since fish will just transfer from fishponds to open waters (rivers) when flooding occurs. Any loss on aquaculture will redound to the benefit of municipal fishers,” Bueno said.

Bueno said that part of the fingerling requirement will come from BFAR-2 fish farms while the balance will either come from the BFAR NFFTC based in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija or be purchased from private hatcheries.

Bueno said that the respective provincial governments have their own rehabilitation assistance.