The National Network on Women in Fisheries in the Philippines, Inc. (WINFISH) recently held a Fisheries Women Entrepreneurs Forum at Amontay Beach Resort, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. The event was conducted in collaboration with the Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division (IARRD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), DOST, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Office XIII.
Themed, “Developing the Entrepreneurial Skills of SMEs for Enhanced Export Market of Live and Frozen Fish and Fishery Products,” the forum aimed to address the challenge in defining the constraints in producing live, frozen, and processed fish and fishery products and matching the processors with the exporters.
During the opening ceremony, Dr. Dalisay DG. Fernandez, IARRD-PCAARRD Director, presented the rationale, forum mechanics, and introduced the participants. She also mentioned that the forum was part of a series of fora for women entrepreneurs in the fisheries industry held throughout the country. The first forum was held in Pampanga where women entrepreneurs were trained on the export of live and frozen shrimp and shrimp products. The more recent forum, which was held in Bohol, enhanced women’s entrepreneurial skills in the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Seven papers were presented by speakers from the BFAR, DOST, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the private sector. These papers focused on the industry status, packaging and marketing, business in free trade areas, setup assistance for micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSME) products, Hazard analysis and critical control points, certification procedure and registration requirements/process of live/frozen and fish and fishery products.
Exporters and processors from regions 9, 10, 12, and 13 presented and shared their experiences and successes on the production and market of live and frozen fish and fishery products. A workshop followed where areas of concern and S&T intervention needs for the development and/or improvement of the product per region were discussed.
At the end of the forum, Seth Ryan Delos Reyes, General Manager of the Super Royale Seafoods International, Inc., was matched with Ruth M. Lazarte of the Balingasag Producers Cooperative, while Orlen H. Gaurana of the Agri-Aquatic Care Inc. was matched with Jilna P. Hipona, owner and president of the JIDA Aqua Resources. The matching ended up with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on market matching of the producer and prospective buyer.
A total of 48 participants consisting of officials and staff from the BFAR Central Office; BFAR Regional Offices 9, 10, 12, and 13; exporters/processors of fish and fishery products; representatives from the private sector, DTI, National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), PCAARRD, and WINFISH officials, attended the activity.