BFAR pushes nationwide mangrove planting

BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Philippines – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has announced the launching of its aquasilviculture project,  a nationwide mangrove propagation scheme.

Speaking before some 1,000 fishermen and non-government organizations here recently, Asis Perez, BFAR national director, stressed the Aquino administration’s policy of providing  sustainable  livelihood programs for marginalized fisherfolk through massive mangrove planting project along the country’s coastlines.

The aquasilviculture project targets the planting of some 300 million mangrove seedlings in three years. The program is expected to generate jobs and stabilize livelihood revenues of  the coastal residents in the country, Perez said.

Perez said the government has increased its budget this year from P3.1 billion to P4.6 billion to finance various fisherfolk projects.

“These grown-up mangrove trees will help bolster the  income of fishermen and  cushion the impact of rising cost of prime commodities  by constructing canals as marine habitat,” Perez said.

Perez  said fishermen’s cooperatives could build canals when the mangroves are big enough while BFAR would provide fishing nets and fingerlings for crabs, shrimps and other delectable marine species.