BAGUIO CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region (BFAR-CAR) officially launched this year’s Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month through a series of activities anchored to the theme “Makabagong Magsasaka at Mangingisda: Susi sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas.”
“They (farmers and fisherfolk) are the backbone of our food supply. Their dedication helps resolve both economic challenges and food security concerns,” BFAR-CAR Regional Director Lois June B. Fermin said as she lauded the vital role of farmers and fisherfolk in national development.
The month-long celebration kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the Tindahan ng Bayan: A Cordillera Agri-Fishery Trade Fair, a local implementation of the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program. The trade fair brought together four local fisherfolk associations to showcase and promote Cordillera’s Agri-fishery products such as tilanggit, dried tilapia, tilapia marinado, lowland vegetables, brown rice, fresh fish, and fishery products, aiming to boost support for regional produce.
Ronelle C. Polon of Sablan, Benguet, was installed and sworn in as the 2025 Regional Fisherfolk Director (RFD). Having been elected, RFD Polon will assume the Regional Fisherfolk Director of BFAR for the whole month of May pursuant to Fisheries Office Order No. 080, series of 2005. As the RFD, he will not only represent the local fisherfolk sector but also gain a grasp of BFAR operations to increase his appreciation and improve collaboration and communication between the agency and fishing communities.
Drawing from his experiences as a fish farmer and his active contributions to the community, Polon is grateful for the opportunity to explore and learn how fisheries are managed in other provinces. “I will use this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the current needs and conditions of the fisheries sector in the region,” Polon remarked.
Alongside the RFD, six provincial fisherfolk directors were likewise installed across the region. These directors will assist in implementing fisheries-related projects and serve as key community liaisons in their respective provinces. They are James V. Tadeo for Abra, Rodel H. Duldulao for Apayao, Floriel Jean E. Miguel for Benguet, Rosel R. Layona for Ifugao, Bonifacio G. Dumagay for Kalinga, and Jolenda F. Lomas-e for Mountain Province.
This initiative acknowledges the pivotal roles and heroic deeds of the fisherfolk, led by BFAR’s Regional Fisheries Training and Fisherfolk Coordination Division, intended to strengthen grassroots participation in fisheries governance and sustainable development.
To further promote unity and local culture, participants shared in a “Ani at Huli: A Boodle Feast of the Cordilleras,” a traditional communal meal celebrating the region’s agricultural and fishery abundance.
The event also included a health and wellness activity in coordination with the Benguet office of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, offering free services such as manicure, pedicure, foot spa, and body massage to farmers and fisherfolk in attendance.
The opening ceremony was attended by BFAR-CAR personnel, provincial fisheries officers, technology outreach staff, and partner agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Baguio City Veterinary and Agriculture Office, along with fisherfolk representatives from across the region.
Throughout May, the bureau expects active participation in various programs designed to honor and empower farmers and fisherfolk, while fostering stronger partnerships between government and community stakeholders.
