Officers and staff of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2 led by Regional Director Leah Pulido Ocampo met with the officers of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 2 on 31 January 2022 to discuss possible areas of collaboration in developing the fisheries industry of the Cagayan Valley Region.

The interface aimed to synchronize the plans of both agencies, have a unified program as a region, and maximize resources to further boost the said industry.

During the discussion, RD Ocampo expressed the agency’s willingness and commitment to a collaborative undertaking.

She also emphasized the agency’s Food Development Program and Investment Promotion and Marketing interventions such as the regional trade fair and export-related assistance of DTI to push for the development of the fishery industry sector of the region.

“We are ready to work with you. Whatever help we can do to push for the development of the fisheries industry, we will do it. The seafood industry is one of the pillars of the region and we will do everything to support and develop it,” said RD Ocampo.

On the other hand, the BFAR programs, projects, and activities such as fisheries resource management, capture fisheries, aquaculture, post-harvest, and market development and support services, were presented by Ms. Gemma Libunao, OIC of the Fisheries Postharvest and Marketing Division.

Likewise, the region’s production data, sufficiency rate, and the strategic focus of BFAR R2 on certain fishery commodities like tilapia and aramang were presented by Ms. Cheyserr Garcia, OIC of the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Unit.

As an offshoot of the discussion, both agencies will collaborate in promoting investment opportunities and other relevant interventions for the aquaculture prospects of the region. The team also agreed to schedule a follow-through to lay down the appropriate plans of the region in line with the fishery and aquaculture roadmaps, investment promotion, MSME Development and Consumer Protection in the region.

Also present in the meeting were DTI R2 Chief of Staff/CPD OIC-Chief Atty. Cyrus Restauro, Industry Development Division (IDD) OIC-Chief Randolph Cacacho, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Division (SMEDD) Chief Ramil Garcia, Ragel Tacazon, Desiree Angolluan, among others. ♦

Release Date: 2 February 2022