AN OFFICIAL of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) called on fisherfolk in the island province of Basilan to organize themselves, determine their needs, and have a common voice to put this forward to government. “Just tell us what you need and we will provide the appropriate interventions,” Undersecretary for Fisheries Eduardo B. Gongona, the BFAR national director, said during last week’s first Basilan Fisheries and Aquaculture Summit. The event — organized by the BFAR in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the provincial government of Basilan — brought together fisherfolk, local officials, and other industry stakeholders to discuss the current state of fisheries in the island and formulate better policies on various fisheries-related concerns. A hundred motorized fiberglass boats were also distributed to fishermen. — BW Mindanao Bureau

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