Davao City – Twenty two “Fish Centers” equipped with Ice-makers, cold storage and processing facilities located in almost every coastal province of Mindanao have been identified as the priority project for funding under the European Union-funded Mindanao Peace and Development Program (MINPAD) to be implemented this year.
The “Fish Centers” estimated to cost about P200-M will be interconnected through a Digital Platform which will monitor daily catch and establish market linkage.
The facilities are expected to boost fisheries and aquaculture productivity in Mindanao while upgrading the fisheries sector to make it compliant to international standards against IUUF and ensure traceability.
During the final planning workshop of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) on Friday, the Mindanao Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MINFAD) was identified as one of the critical programs which could address poverty in Mindanao, increase productivity and trigger the region’s economic recover post-COVID 19.
Also identified as priority commodities for funding support are Coconut, Rubber, Corn, Banana, Organic Rice, Poultry and Small Ruminants, Vegetables and High Value Crops.
Interventions in these commodities will be guided by the Complete Value Chain Policy advocated by MinDA for the Agriculture and Fisheries sectors in Mindanao.
Regions identified for Area-Based Programs are Zamboanga, Bangsamoro and Caraga while the Mindanao Water Supply Program is also included as a special program.
The Commodity-Based and Area-Based Programs are guided by the parameters which I set during previous workshops of the MinDA planning staff:
1. Projects must contribute to the reduction of poverty in Mindanao through jobs and income-earning opportunities;
2. Projects must increase the productivity of Mindanao;
3. Projects must have an immediate effect in restarting Mindanao’s economy which was adversely affected by COVID-19.
Funding for the MINPAD Projects will come from the P2.1-B EU Grant Fund which was signed earlier between the EU Delegation in the Philippines and the Philippine Government through the Department of Finance.
MinDA targets the implementation of these projects to start late this year.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
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(Photos of Tawitawi Fish Market were taken by Diane Faith Garcia while photos of the MinDA Planning Workshop in Davao City were taken by Mayette Tudlas.)
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