The Philippines Fisheries sector welcomed the move of Agriculture secretary Emmanuel Manny Piñol to rename the Department of Agriculture (DA) into Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF). Bfar-Davao regional director Fatma Idris told SunStar Davao in an interview the move will recognize the fisheries industry for its contribution to domestic and international sphere. Idris said it is but ironic how the Philippines, as of the present, remained the only country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that has no Department or Ministry of Fisheries. It is high time to give more focus on the fisheries sector, we have one of the longest coastline and water resources covering an estimate of 1.4 million registered fisher men under the national system of fisherfolk registration, Idris said. Piñol emphasized, in a Facebook post, the inclusion of the word “fisheries” in DA’s name will signify the crucial role of the fishermen in ensuring available and affordable food for the Filipinos. He added his decision (including fisheries) came after he became tired of explaining to people, both here and internationally, that the Department of Agriculture (DA) does not only cover farming but also fishing.
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