ADVANCING BLUE ECONOMY AGENDA THRU FISH VISAYAS

FISH Visayas Project banners Blue Economy initiatives in Central Visayas

By Mary Ruth Ochavillo. Posted on JULY 02, 2025.

Cebu City, Cebu – On April 23, 2025, the Fostering Inclusive and Sustainable Habitats (FISH) Visayas Project – Phase II initiated the FISH Visayas Forum, bringing together partners to deepen their understanding of the region’s Blue Economy agenda and to align and institutionalize project initiatives into actionable policy measures. The forum marked the opening plenary of the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) 2025, organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VII and the AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation, held from April 23 to 25, 2025.
 
Celebrating project accomplishments
Initiated in July 2022 and concluding in September 2025, FISH Visayas Phase II has rolled out a wide range of programs to enhance the capacities and livelihoods of fisherfolk and MSMEs. As the project nears completion, the forum served as a platform for key partners and stakeholders to reflect on progress, share insights, and highlight results.
 
Project accomplishments were presented by Ms. Yvette Hope P. Labus, Project Manager and Philippine Resident Representative, with the support of Mr. Norbert Weiss, Project Management Adviser. The event was graced by key representatives from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), including Dr. Renato O. Solidum, DOST Secretary, and Dr. Tristan Abando, Officer-in-Charge of the DOST Region VII Regional Director’s Office.
Insights from the Fireside Chat
One of the forum’s key highlights was the Fireside Chat, which engaged panelists in a dynamic discussion on advancing the Blue Economy in Central Visayas. The session helped deepen participants’ understanding of how to tap into government programs and foster partnerships with the private sector to ensure the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources.
 
This chat is composed of the following panel members:
  • Yvette Hope P. Labus, Project Manager and Philippine Resident Representative, AFOS Foundation
  • Tristan L. Abando, Ph.D., OIC, Office of the Regional Director, DOST VII
  • Melanie C. Ng, Area Vice President – Visayas, Director for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Mario N. Ruinata, Ph.D., Regional Director, Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources -Cebu Provincial Fishery Office
  • Julius P. Relampagos, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Economics, University of San Carlos.
  • Miriam Bacalso, Moderator
 
Key takeaways from the discussion included:
  • The Blue Economy offers a sustainable pathway for managing ocean and coastal resources.
  • Collaboration among government, academia, civil society, and the private sector is essential to realizing this vision.
  • The active involvement of fisherfolk and local government units (LGUs) is crucial to protecting and conserving marine ecosystems.
  • Transitioning to a blue economy can be guided by the “Push-Pull-Enable” framework:
    • Push through policy and climate risk awareness
    • Pull through economic opportunities and disaster risk reduction
    • Enable through information dissemination and capacity-building
  • The successes of the FISH Visayas Project serve as a model that can be scaled and sustained to support the growth of blue economies in the region.
 
From Project to Policy: Sustaining Impact Through Recommendations
To ensure that project gains are sustained and scaled, the FISH Visayas Project has put forward policy recommendations aimed at institutionalizing successful interventions. These were presented by Mr. Bernard Vonn Sia, Vice President for Business Development of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), aligning with CCCI’s L.E.A.D. Agenda.
 
Key Policy Recommendations:
  1. That the DA – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sustain the conduct of training programs for Fisheries sector and MSMEs within the related food value chains.
  2. That the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) review, enhance and adopt the DET program of the Project as it is aligned to the organization’s mandate and objective of improving the skills of workers;
  3. That the Local Government Units (LGUs) provide the People’s Organizations in their localities with production facilities or facilitate the establishment of production infrastructures by tapping other resources such as from other national government agencies, councils or the private sector; and
  4. That the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA – BFAR), the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) strengthen the management of marine resources, support ecosystem protection and conservation to further improve the state of their marine resources and mitigate the effects of climate change and natural disasters.
These recommendations outline a clear roadmap for continuing the project’s legacy—and reinforce the shared responsibility of government, private sector, and communities in ensuring sustainable development.
 
These draft recommendations will be formally presented during the final Project Advisory Committee meeting in July 2025. The project hopes that through ongoing collaboration and dialogue, partners will endorse and adopt these measures as part of a unified approach to policy development and inclusive growth.
 
Ultimately, the FISH Visayas Forum served as a call to action—to recognize progress, celebrate partnerships, and ensure the sustainability of initiatives through policy adoption and continued stakeholder commitment. Through this collective effort, the region moves closer to realizing a resilient and inclusive Blue Economy.
 
The FISH Visayas Forum aspires to achieve all result areas of the FISH Visayas Project.

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