Bayabas hailed as regional winner of DA-BFAR MMK

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) of Caraga Region is set to hand over a P2-million award and plaque to the local government unit of Bayabas, Surigao del Sur after being hailed as the 2022 regional winner and will represent Caraga Region to the national MMK search.

Based on the report, the municipal government of Bayabas in Surigao del Sur emerged as the Regional Champion over its lone contender the Local Government Unit of Libjo, Dinagat Islands.

The regional MMK evaluation team assessed and evaluated the entries based on the following criteria:

1. Absence of illegal fishing, 2. Observance of off-fishing season, 3. Establishment of a protected marine sanctuary, 4. Clean, coastal waters without any garbage or industrial effluents flowing to the sea

5. Effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program. The DA-BFAR Technical Working Group collaborated with the Caraga Inter-Agency Technical Evaluation Team through an objective desk review and field evaluation purposely to identify the most deserving winner.

Meanwhile, the MMK is a banner program of the DA-BFAR that highlights sustainable fisheries development and environmental protection and seeks to recognize LGUs with outstanding coastal management practices. (NGPB/with the report from DABFAR/PIA-Surigao del Sur) #ExplainExplainExplain #PIASurigaoSur