GUIMARAS – The inaugural meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for the six-year program “Capacity Building on Aquaculture Development for Income Increase of Fisherfolk in Guimaras Province, Philippines” was held on January 21, marking the formal launch of the P500-million Guimaras Aquaculture Project.
The meeting was followed by a groundbreaking ceremony at the project site in Barangay Igdarapdap, Nueva Valencia.
The PSC is chaired by Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Jerome V. Oliveros and co-chaired by Undersecretary Drusila Esther E. Bayate. It brought together key national and local stakeholders, including DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) National Director Elizer Salilig and Guimaras Governor Ma. Lucille Nava.
The committee is tasked with guiding project implementation, facilitating policy coordination, and monitoring progress throughout the project’s six-year duration.
In his opening remarks, Oliveros expressed optimism over the project’s potential impact on the province and the region.
“We are very happy that we will be able to make a difference in the lives of our fisherfolk in Guimaras and in Region 6. Our ultimate goal is to achieve food security in our country,” Oliveros said.
The meeting also served as a venue to review project updates, including accomplishments in capacity-building initiatives. To date, 282 fisherfolk have been trained in aquaculture techniques, cooperative operations, and advanced hatchery management.
Key policy issues and coordination mechanisms were likewise discussed to ensure that project implementation remains aligned with approved guidelines.
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Country Director Jung Youngsun underscored the importance of collaboration among stakeholders.
“I believe that shared responsibility among us will lead towards a smooth and successful project implementation,” Jung said, citing the project’s anticipated contribution to rural development in Guimaras.
Following the meeting, officials, stakeholders, and community members joined the groundbreaking ceremony, signaling the formal start of construction activities.
The project site covers a total building area of 1,706 square meters, with embankment works already 27 percent complete. Once finished, it will house key facilities such as hatcheries, pilot ponds, training facilities, dormitories, and post-harvest processing units to support sustainable aquaculture practices and increase fisherfolk income.
Bayate described the initiative as timely and responsive to the needs of Guimaras’ fishing industry.
“This project is timely and responsive to the needs of the fisherfolk and the industry in Guimaras Island,” she said.
Governor Nava, for her part, assured stakeholders of the provincial government’s commitment to fast-tracking land preparation and construction to keep the project on schedule.
Funded through a USD 10-million (approximately P500 million) grant from KOICA, with counterpart support from the Philippine government, the project aims to modernize aquaculture practices in Guimaras while promoting sustainability, gender equality, and food security.
Spanning from 2022 to 2028, the project seeks to increase fisherfolk income and enhance aquaculture productivity through five major components: infrastructure construction; provision of modern aquaculture and laboratory equipment; capacity building through local and international training programs; support for cooperative-based business operations; and technical assistance for facility operations and demonstration of effective aquaculture models./PN
