KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — Families in identified End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) communities in South Cotabato received additional support for livelihood and food production through the distribution of fingerlings led by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) South Cotabato in partnership with the CATCH-UP Team.
The activity forms part of the continuing efforts of the government to strengthen food sustainability, improve household income, and promote community-based aquaculture initiatives in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. By providing fingerlings to beneficiary families and community groups, the program aims to help residents establish or expand small scale fish production that can serve as a source of food and additional earnings.
According to Project Development Officer Cris Pingkunn Fuentes, the distribution supports the government’s broader objective of bringing essential services and development interventions closer to communities while addressing economic challenges through sustainable livelihood opportunities.
“It contributes to the goals of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and the Whole of Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict by fostering inclusive development and improving the quality of life in vulnerable areas,” Fuentes added.
The fingerlings distributed during the activity are expected to help beneficiaries develop productive fishponds that can support their daily needs and strengthen local food supply.
The activity also highlights the importance of convergence among government agencies in delivering responsive services to communities. Through collaborative efforts, development programs are made more accessible to residents, particularly those living in remote areas that require continued government support.
Under the leadership of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., the Provincial Government of South Cotabato continues to strengthen partnerships with national government agencies and local stakeholders to ensure that programs and services reach communities that need them most. Such initiatives reinforce the provincial government’s commitment to transparent, inclusive, and people centered governance while creating more opportunities for sustainable growth and community development.
