To stop post harvest wastage

91 FISHING GROUNDS

GET ICE-MAKING EQPT

By Manny Piñol

The Department of Agriculture attempts to stop the loss of about 40% of the country’s daily fish catch by establishing ice-making facilities in 91 fishing grounds all over the country by the end of the Closed Fishing Season in March 2019.

The establishment of the Ice-Making Facilities will be funded by the Agricultural Credit Police Council (ACPC), a credit agency of the DA, with under the Agriculture and Fisheries Machinery and Equipment (AFME) Loaning Program amounting to P282.5-million.

Under the AFME Loaning Program which is a new credit program of the DA-ACPC, farmers’ and fishermen’s associations and cooperatives could avail of loans at 2% interest per year payable in 8 years.

The AFME Loaning Program covers farm equipment, processing facilities, post harvest faciities and machinery which would give agricultural products higher value.

Under the loan program intended for the fishing communities, fishermen’s groups could choose the brand, type and capacity of the ice-making facility that they need.

The DA-ACPC will release through a local bank conduit the amount needed for the purchase of the ice-making equipment and an initial working capital.

Among the biggest fishing grounds which will get the Ice-Making Facilities by the First Quarter of 2019 are:

– Aparri, Cagayan – P10-M;

– Sta. Ana, Cagayan – P10-M;

– Masinloc, Zambales – P10-M;

– Dingalan, Aurora – P10-M;

– Dinahican, Infanta, Quezon – P10-M;

– Estancia, Ililo – P10-M;

– Sagay City, Negros Occidental – P10-M;

– Sipalay City, Negros Occidental – P10-M;

– Ubay, Bohol – P10-M;

– Pasil, Cebu City – P10-M;

– San Vicente, Northern Samar – P10-M;

– Mapanas, Northern Samar – P10-M;

– Tarangnan, Western Samar – P10-M;

– Borongan, Eastern Samar – P10-M;

– Limasawa, Southern Leyte – P10-M;

– Panabo City Mariculture Park – P10-M;

– Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat – P10-M;

– Lebak, Sultan Kudarat – P8-M.

All other fishig grounds applied for smaller ice-making facilities capable of producing only 1-ton of ice daily.

Among the areas which will get 1-tonner ice-making facilities are Sitangkai, Tawitawi and Walled City, Jolo, Sulu.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) identified these areas and have already organized fishermen’s groups.

All other areas interested in acquiring these Ice-Making Facilities are advised to coordinate with the nearest BFAR office in your area.

(Photos of the ice-making facilities and the fishermen were downloaded from public websites. Succeeding photos show the listing of places which have applied for loans for the establishment of ice-making facilities.)