Apeco, BFAR firm up collab in Aurora
The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (BFAR) regional office in Central Luzon have formalized their partnership to harness marine resources in Aurora province.
In a statement on Friday, Apeco said the collaboration involves key projects to sustain the livelihood and develop the local economy of Casiguran.
“These initiatives aim to empower our local communities and transform Casiguran into a hub for marine-based investments towards our direction to become the Fishing Capital of the Pacific,” Apeco president and CEO Gil Taway IV said.
An examples is the construction of a one-hectare salt production facility costing up to P10 million. It would produce high-quality artisanal salt for both local consumption and export.
To be equipped with the latest technologies, the inland production facility will build on the existing salt-drying installations in the economic zone’s Parcel 2 in Barangay Cozo. It can create 30 direct jobs for the community.
The tie-up also entails building a commercial-scale seaweed farming intended for culinary use and export. It would provide new income streams for local communities.
Commercial-scale seaweed farming will rise in the northern bays in Barangays Diniog, Dalugan and Cozo. This will introduce both cultivation practices and drying facilities to one-hectare of parcels of land in each of the barangays.
Both agencies will explore the development of a one-hectare inland marine hatchery within the ecozone. This will produce fingerlings for distribution to fish farming areas outside Casiguran.
