Press Release
Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
February 19, 2013

BFAR Hosts Luzon-Wide Environmental Media Conference On-board MV DA-BFAR

CORREGIDOR, PHILIPPINES- Off the coast of historic Corregidor Island, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) strengthened its partnership with the media through the Luzon-Wide Environmental Media Conference on February 9, 2013.

Over a hundred local media practitioners from the Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, and the National Capital Region participated in the whole-day conference held on board the MV DA-BFAR also called as "DYCA", the bureau's multi-mission vessel.

With the theme "Media at Kalikasan: Sama-samang Paglalayag para sa Makabuluhang Pamamahayag", BFAR in cooperation withTanggol Kalikasan, a non-governmental organization, seek to assist media practitioners" to critically analyze environmental information".

"Malaki ang kontribusyon ng industriya ng pangisdaan sa economiya ng bansa", BFAR Director Asis G. Perez said, citing relevant figures in fisheries production from the recent years. Making the public know and realize this potential, however, is another matter and this is where the bureau will greatly need the media's help, he added.

Perez then assured media practitioners that transparency and opennes to inform will always be exercised within the bureau.  

"And we will be prepared to answer questions", he said.

BFAR and the Media
Award-winning journalist, Howie Severino, joined the conference as one of the key speakers. He said that the media ecosystem have all the means to help in various fields like law enforcement and environmental advocacies. He also urged fellow media practitioners to cope with the fast-changing media landscape without compromising their objective of helping hone the society.

Veteran reporter, Jong Manlapaz of Radyo Inquirer, commended the agency on letting the public know of its programs apart from the standard shellfish poisoning advisory the bureau releases from time to time.

DZRH's Val Gonzales saw the conference positively:

He said, "Dahil sa paliwanag ng BFAR ay nagkaroon kami ng mas malalim na pagkakaintindi sa mga plano at direksyon na tatahakin ng ahensya".

Among the future plans the bureau chief revealed are the establishment of post-harvest infrastructures to generate more livelihood projects and add value to fishery products ,revival of endemic and indigenous fish species in our lakes and river systems and the impending construction of BFAR Building Complex in Visayas Avenue.

The success of the media conference in Luzon has prompted BFAR to hold the same activity in Visayas and Mindanao in the succeeding months.

Veteran journalist Howie Severino delivers a talk in front of fellow media practitioners during the Luzon-Wide Environmental Media Conference on February 9, 2013 on board the MV DA-BFAR

Media practitioners from Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon and the National Capital Region gathered on board the MV DA-BFAR for a whole-day media conference hosted by BFAR and Tanggol Kalikasan

Regional Directors Dennis Del Socorro (V) and Esmeralda Paz Manalang (IV-A), National Marine Fisheries Development Center (NMFDC) Chief Dr. Alma Dickson and the IPRG staff with the media practitioners from the National Capital Region during the conclusion of the Luzon-Wide Environmental Media Conference