MORE than 200 kilos of garbage was collected during a coastal cleanup organized by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7-Siquijor Provincial Fishery Office (PFO) in Barangays Tinago and Caticugan, Siquijor town on Aug. 18, 2021.
Joining the activity were 107 individuals, mostly members of fisherfolk associations who are beneficiaries of BFAR-aided livelihood projects.
Participants were from the Siquijor Inland Fish Groomers Association, Siquijodnong Mananagat Association, Tinago Farmers and Fisherfolks Association, Caticugan Farmers and Fisherfolks Association, and the Caticugan Women’s Association.
The initiative intends to encourage fisherfolk associations, particularly fish pen owners or operators, to take part in preserving and sustaining the beauty and bounty of nature in order to keep their projects thriving.
The cleanup drive gathered 285.75 kilos of garbage such as plastic wrappers, plastic bottles, glass containers, broken glass wares, nylon rope and fishing nets.
The bureau was grateful to the offices that supported the endeavor, namely: the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the Siquijor Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the Siquijor Municipal Agriculturist Office.
Different entities from government and private sector came together and worked hand in hand to protect and conserve the diverse coastal resources in the Tinago Cove, which has been a significant venue for several aquaculture activities in the town. (ZOSIMO CAYLAP, BFAR 7-SIQUIJOR PFO)