The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to establish a regional fisheries hub in Mapanas, Northern Samar, positioning the area as a potential growth center for Eastern Visayas’ tuna industry.

The DA said the area could be a major fisheries and agricultural growth center for Eastern Visayas due to its significant tuna production.

The coastal community also produces abaca, cassava and coconuts.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said  Mapanas has potential as a “rising powerhouse” for tuna and high-value deep-sea commercial fishing, while its fields are primed for high-value crop production.

He added that the town could become a key contributor to regional food production and rural economic growth due to Samar’s extensive marine resources and agricultural land.

Tiu Laurel said the DA will install a solar-powered ice plant with a capacity of 10,000 kilos to support the municipality’s fisheries sector.

He added that light boats will also be distributed to fisherfolk by the end of the year, while a modular solar-powered cold storage will be deployed for fish, meat and vegetables.

Mapanas currently has 1,528 registered farmers and 816 fisherfolk, while its fisheries area spans about 16,500 hectares. The DA noted that about three out of every 10 residents remain in poverty.

The agency added that combined production support, insurance protection, mechanization and market-oriented development could unlock the town’s potential as a regional food hub.

Meanwhile, the DA also distributed P4.7 million worth of seeds, farm inputs and other equipment. Cash assistance was also released to more than 2,000 beneficiaries of the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program.

The department handed out P1.2 million worth of abaca stripping machines, while P293 million worth of crop and fishery insurance was provided by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.

Source - https://www.philstar.com