By Marie Tonette Marticio
TACLOBAN City - In order to help local fishermen sell their products in non-coastal municipalities, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR-8) has launched "Love us, Lab-as, Fish For Every Juan ni Ani at Kita" Wednesday (April 15).
BFAR-8 Regional Director Dr. Juan Albaladejo said the initiative aims to bring fresh fish from the fisherfolk directly to the consumers. It is a platform where both farmers and fisherfolk help one another amidst the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
"This Kadiwa On Wheels will be going first in interior towns of Leyte to assist the local government units (LGUs) in providing alternative protein sources other than the usual relief goods to their constituents," he said. The mobile fish market will visit eight non-coastal municipalities in Leyte for three weeks.
For their first stop, BFAR-8 was able to sell 700 kilos of flying fish (iliw), milkfish (bangus), and emperor fish (kirawan), and 2,000 pieces of dried flying fish in Barangays Victoria, Cutay, Baculanad, Pitogo, and Katipunan, Sta. Fe, Leyte.
Albaladejo said the milkfish came from marine cages in Tagpuro, Tacloban City, while the flying fish (fresh and dried) and snapper fish came from Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
"Because of the commendable demand, we will still be visiting the remaining barangays in Sta. Fe on Thursday and Friday.
The official said that they are practicing social distancing and proper hygiene including the wearing of face masks while going around the municipalities.