Food producers, led by food advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan, are asking the government to consider amending the fishpond lease agreements (FLA) for aquaculture industry to make the industry more productive.
Norbert Chingcuanco, Tugon Kabuhayan co-convenor, said in a virtual briefing yesterday a long-term permit is more conducive for production instead of the current setup that requires annual renewal.
“What we need is a long-term permit. Majority of our sea cages, which is the main production unit of milkfish and tilapia, are getting yearly permit. If we have a national policy… to encourage LGUs (local government units) for sustainability to provide each grower a tenure permit at his own location provided they follow DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) rules, DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) rules and proper mooring, immediately it will cause a big improvement,” Chingcuanco said.
David Villaluz, chairperson of the Philippine Association of Fish Producers Inc., said some holders of FLAs which cover around 60,000 hectares nationwide are now either abandoned or neglected to a point that their production are barely significant.
Villaluz said some holders are getting discouraged as the current rule requires that once the FLA ends, the areas will be reverted back for mangroves or will be given to fisherfolk cooperative organizations.
“Our suggestion is if they can be renewed for another 25 years or whatever, existing FLA holders must redevelop and pour investments in these areas. Maybe we can have an arrangement or agreement for them to develop certain areas of FLA fishponds for hatcheries or nurseries to produce fingerlings for the envisioned expansion for mariculture parks’ production,” Villaluz added.
FLAs are issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to individuals and corporations that want to use public lands for fishpond purposes which also include public lands and areas covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.
Meanwhile, Chris Co, vice president for marketing of Oversea Feeds, said adjusting FLA rules can benefit the industry by allowing productive farms an extension, while assigning the unproductive ones to a new set of investors.
Dennis Calvan, a non-government organization representative from the Pangingisda Natin Gawing Tama Network, agrees with the need to review FLA guidelines especially for addressing abandoned, underdeveloped and underutilized fishponds.
“We are also pushing for the issuance of a guideline for a turnover and actual physical reversion of abandoned fishponds by DENR. The agency is yet to release a guideline and we are blind on what is happening to fishponds turned over by BFAR to DENR for mangrove reforestation,” Calvan said. – Jed Macapagal
