BFAR prepares for 1st Eastern Visayas Mariculture Congress

By MARIVIC ALCOBER (PIA 8)
June 20, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  To ensure the successful conduct of the “1st Eastern Visayas Mariculture Congress” which will be held at the Tacloban Convention Center, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Region 8 through the efforts of its Regional Director Ernesto Hilvano, in coordination with other government and non-government organizations, is now on its toes preparing for said Congress.

In a recently called inter-agency meeting, BFAR Regional Director bared that the proposed two-day Mariculture Congress which carries the theme “Mariculture Parks: The New Frontier to Economic Growth”, is tentatively scheduled on October 17-18, 2007.

During the meeting, it was agreed that the proposed Steering Committee will compose of Dir. Hilvano as Chairman, and Leyte Provincial Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla and Dr. Gil Asoy as Co-Chairmen, while the member agencies are: the Office of the Presidential Assistant, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade & Industry, Department of Science & Technology, National Economic & Development Authority, Department of Tourism, Philippine Information Agency, and the Tacloban City Mayor’s Office. Likewise, said Committee will also be joined by the Regional Fisherfolk Representative, and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

To make sure that all matters regarding the Mariculture Congress will be readily attended to, the offices involved were divided into inter-agency working committees and were given their respective assignments suited to their functions.

The proposed activities involved during said Congress, which will have an expected participants of 1,000 coming from Leyte and Samar, will be technical sessions, exhibit, and industry tours to be conducted on the second day.

The recommended areas for the field tours are the Mariculture Park in San Juanico Strait, with Dr. Asoy as tour coordinator; and the Mariculture Zone in Quinapondan. Projects to be visited include the seaweed farms; aquaculture; pearl culture; hatcheries; oyster culture; sea urchin culture; fish sanctuary – Lawaan; and Leyte, Leyte. The group will also visit the McArthur Park and other historical sites in the area.