The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) teamed up with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for Kadiwa sa Kanlurang Karagatan (KKK) to support municipal fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea, starting with a pilot deployment in Zambales province.
BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera announced during a joint briefing with the Coast Guard that the program aimed to make it easier for Filipino fishers to sell their fresh catch without the logistical burdens of transporting it to fish ports.
“Our objective is to bring the market closer to the fishermen, allowing them to stay longer at sea and return with less spoilage and higher value for their catch,” Briguera said in a web briefing Friday.
BFAR and the PCG deployed M/V Kunimatsu, a fish courier vessel capable of storing up to 100 tons of catch, to collect the daily catch.
The vessel is equipped with an onboard ice production system, a fresh water supply, and sufficient cold storage to maintain the quality of the fish and enable longer fishing trips.
M/V Kunimatsu is stationed near Bajo de Masinloc, off the coast of Zambales, as part of the pilot implementation of the Kadiwa sa Kanlurang Karagatan program.
“This is a government investment meant to improve the fishing livelihood of our countrymen. It provides not just storage, but also fuel subsidies and operational support to reduce post-harvest and logistical costs,” Briguera said.
Since its deployment, M/V Kunimatsu has collected 10 to 15 tons of fresh fish from local fishermen.
The catch is then sold directly to consumers at nearby fish landing areas under the Kadiwa system, which seeks to improve food accessibility while ensuring fair prices for both producers and buyers.
Coast Guard officials underscored the importance of the project in encouraging more fishing activities in the West Philippine Sea, aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s food security agenda.
Plans are already underway to replicate the program in Palawan, they said.
“In the coming weeks and months, we aim to bring Kadiwa sa Kanlurang Karagatan to more coastal areas, especially those strategically located along the West Philippine Sea,” Briguera said.
PCG also pledged continued support for the initiative, with assets such as BRP Gabriela Silang and aerial surveillance being mobilized to ensure the project’s success.
