LANAO DEL SUR – To enhance the local fishing industry, the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Agrarian Reform – Special Development Fund (MAFAR-SDF) turned over three units of solar-powered mini-ice plants to the Coastal Malabang Fishing Marketing Cooperative on March 8, 2024, at Campo Muslim, Malabang, Lanao del Sur.
For years, fishermen in the community have faced challenges preserving their catch due to the lack of proper cooling facilities. Now that the project has turned over, the fishermen in the area, especially those part of the cooperative, will no longer have to travel long distances or suffer high costs to obtain ice for their fish.
Engr. Ghalia S. Darping, MAFAR-SDF Program Officer for Technical, Planning, and Monitoring, underscores the importance of the mini-ice plant facility in supporting the livelihood of the coop members and the fishermen.
“Through the operation of these ice plants, the coop is poised to generate income by producing ice blocks for the fishermen within the area and neighboring towns,” said Engr Darping.
By having a local source of ice, the fishermen can prolong the shelf life of their fish, reducing spoilage and waste, and this improves the quality of their products and opens up opportunities for better market prices.
Moreover, the turnover ceremony was witnessed by the SDF Project Management Office team, a Representative from COA, and the MAFAR Municipal Officer of Malabang.
