Intended to reinforce the DA-PRDP I-REAP subproject Oyster Production, Processing and Marketing Enterprise of the Altavas Small Fishermen’s Association (ASFA) and Tinagong Dagat Fishermen’s Association (TDFA), the Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) of Aklan commenced the construction of Oyster Processing Facility with a ceremonial groundbreaking at Brgy. Linayasan, Altavas, Aklan in February 2, 2023.

The Php14,957,837.17 project will be utilized to produce communal fresh oyster employing a raft module technology to lessen the environmental setback of siltation being one of the by-product of processing mollusks with silt residues.

Meanwhile, the marketing enterprise will be a buying entity as it is set to purchase and consolidate harvested oysters of its individual members and non-members. Collected products will then be sold as fresh oysters in a sack and fermented oysters in a jar.

Linayasan Punong Barangay, Hon. Solito S. Tulio vowed to support the enterprise as he shares the same delight on the construction of the facility.

“Daya milestone sang Barangay Linayasan. Bukon sa Barangay Linayasan kundi sa banwa sang Altavas. Dayon raya proyekto hay sigurado ako makabulig sa aton na mga mangingisda. Daya gina congratulate ko gid ro Altavas Small Fisherman’s Association sa anda nga paglunsar ro aya nga proyekto. Kasayod kita nga ro yung sektor kabuhay na sanda nga medyo nalipatan. Pero sa makaron iyawon na presentar won natao ron bulig ro aton ra Department of Agriculture ra proponent nanda nga mga agency ra aton provincial government ra aton municipal government. Kami riya sa barangay riya kami na magsupporta.”

[This is a milestone for Barangay Linayasan. Not only of the barangay but also of the Municipality of Altavas. I am certain that this project will be of help to our fisher folks. I am congratulating the Altavas Small Fishermen’s Association for launching this project; we are well aware that this sector was quite forgotten but at this time it is now being presented and was a granted help for us by the Department of Agriculture, its proponent, agencies, our provincial government, and our municipal government. The barangay will be of continued support.]

Moreover, ASFA President Clyde Duran affirms that the facility will greatly aid the members for additional livelihood and stable income.

Establishing the general objective of the Philippine Rural Development Project of the Department of Agriculture, Joel Ordoña of Aklan PPMIU reaffirms that PRDP does not only aim for food production as it also targets that all segments of the value chain be addressed with constraints needing to be identified and for interventions to be provided. (Eunice Gregorio, RPCO 6, Writer)