Statistical Analyst of PSA-Bohol, Nicefora L. Marimon represented the office for the Provincial Committee on Agri-Fishery (PCCAF) meeting on July 31, 2019 which started at 9:30am at Reyna’s the Haven and Garden Food Catering Services Inc., New Calceta Street, Cogon District Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The Senior Agriculturist of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), Engr. Evelyn T. Maligsa, presided the meeting and was attended by PCCAF members which composed of different offices with functions related to agriculture and fisheries in the province including the PSA. Majority of the attendees were Municipal Agriculturists/Municipal Agriculture Officers and Fishery Technicians.

Mr. Leo C. Bongalos of BFAR Bohol provincial office discussed the Fishery Administrative Order No. 250-2 series of 2018, an amendment of AO 250 series of 2014 ensures a total ban on the gathering, selling and exporting of Brown Algae (Sargassum and Sea Grasses) while AO 250-2 allows  gathering, selling and exporting only if gathering came from washed ashore. He reiterated to all  to help disseminate the information especially among the fisherfolks in the thirty coastal municipalities of Bohol.

Moreover, he urged LGUs to issue Auxiliary Invoice for fishery products transported through port of origin.  Among the municipalities across the province, only Tubigon, Talibon, Getafe, Bien Unido and CPG had been issuing auxiliary invoices. Large amount of money have been raised and can be beneficial to address LGUs concerns. He stressed further that Local Transport Permit (LTP) is a permit issued by BFAR that allows one transporting even one kilogram of fishery product.  Payment range from ten pesos (P10.00) to a maximum of one hundred pesos (P100.00) only if there’s an auxiliary invoice issued by LGU. There is no need to get an LTP from BFAR.

Added information talked about the existence of Red Tide along sea waters of Tagbilaran City and Dauis. Participants of the meeting were advised to be extra careful in eating shells. On the other hand, Ms. Evelyn Putong of NIA presented the level of water in the four big dams in Bohol namely; the Capayas, Zamora, Bayongan and Malinao.  Downward trend was observed in the month of July. According to her, Cloud Seeding started last June 17, 2019.   The seeding most likely benefited crop farmers than rice farmers. NIA had earnestly requested OPA to allocate mango seeds for the rice farmers to supplement their produce.

Closing topics included the granting of incentives for the Organic practitioners in LGUs, and results of the SUHID Agri-fair  where LGU Carmen grabbed majority of prices. Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) also presented the number of farmers that availed insurances, the latest in July 2019.