CEBU CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is helping fisherfolk here to promote and market their products through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo pop-up stores, trade fairs, and exhibits, an official said on Friday.
Mikee Calibugar, aquacultural technologist at BFAR-7 (Central Visayas) said fisher’s catch could be marketed through the Kadiwa established by the Department of Agriculture and local government units in the region.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are encouraged to market their products in BFAR-7 and other local government Units (LGU) that help beneficiaries get access to large markets, he said.
The fishery agency is also coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for product labeling to provide accurate information on the marine products of the fishermen.
Red tide still up
Meanwhile in Negros Oriental, BFAR cautioned the public against consuming shellfish from Bais Bay in Bais City as ed tide warning is still in effect.
BFAR-Negros Oriental provincial chief Florencia Mepaña told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that until the warning is lifted, it is not yet safe to eat shellfish that might be contaminated with dangerous toxins arising from red tide or harmful algal blooms.
Mepaña said some residents are insisting that there is no red tide in the bay as there have been no reports of people coming down will shellfish poisoning since the advisory was issued last September 6.
“A series of tests is still being done to determine whether the red tide occurrence has already slowed down and there is no more presence of toxins that are harmful to humans,” she said in mixed English and Cebuano.
“Until then, it is not advisable to eat shellfish from the bay”. (PNA)