LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, (PNA)– Gov. Amado Espino Jr. is set to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for the implementation in Pangasinan of the Ecosystems Improvement for Sustainable Fisheries project.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, on motion of Fifth District Board Member Danilo Uy, passed a resolution authorizing Espino to sign the MOA which Uy said will be a big boon to the province, especially the coastal areas.
ECOFISH is a five-year program of the United States for International Development designed to protect and manage eight Marine Key Biodiversity Areas in the country, which include the Lingayen Gulf.
Among others, the project aims to address biological diversity, enhance ecosystem productivity and restore the profitability of fishery areas.
Noting that fishing is one of the major industries of Pangasinan, BFAR invited the province to become among the beneficiaries of ECOFISH.
Espino hailed ECOFISH as BFAR will provide technical training programs, support initiatives to improve management of municipal marine waters, and also facilitate collaboration between local governments, institutions and private sector partners.