August 31, 2023/ COTABATO CITY-BARMM. The island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is known for its rich and potentials of seafood products, beautiful beaches, and generous people, among others.
With the support of development partners, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.) expands its wings for a new project that works to support aquaculture in the said islands of the Bangsamoro.
The project is dubbed as Building Resilient Livelihoods and Communities through Climate-Smart Aquaculture Value Chain in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu Archipelago under the program Strengthening the implementation of regional and local peace and development agendas in Mindanao (SPADe). It is funded by the German Cooperation (GIZ) and the European Union (EU) and implemented in partnership with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
It aims to promote inclusive socio-economic development and contribute to peacebuilding, food security, and environmental conservation through climate-resilient and sustainable livelihood interventions in aquaculture value chain in the Tawi-Tawi and Sulu Archipelago.
Fresh from those islands are the project team of BDA Inc. who went to pay courtesy meeting with local government units (LGUs) of Buan in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi and Socuban in Omar, Sulu.
BDA Inc. introduced the agency and the project to partners and stakeholders through the said meetings and community-wide orientations at the barangay level.
The team also took the chance to visit the target aqua farms of seaweeds and lobster and was able to talk to farmers and community members regarding the status, challenges and needs of their livelihood related to seaweed and lobster farming.
Through this mission, BDA Inc. has established coordination and linkage to the key partners from LGUs, community leaders, members and other stakeholders at the local level, which is relevant for inclusivity, transparency and ownership of the project.
The project has four components; (1) organization/ strengthening of cooperatives/ fisherfolks associations; (2) value chain development and livelihood resilience building; (3) upgrading value chain post-harvest facilities; and (4) monitoring & evaluation and knowledge management.
