Question & AnswerQ&A (LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 1061)
The main objective is to implement fishpond development projects for dislocated families and rebel-returnees in Southern Philippines to promote economic development, generate livelihood, and expedite the integration of these groups into the national body politic.
The Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) is designated as the lead agency for planning, development, and management of the fishpond projects.
The identified projects include Bagong Lipunan Fishpond Estate I (Vitali, Zamboanga City), Gintong Biyaya Fish Cage Culture Project (Lake Buluan, Sultan Kudarat), Basilan Prawn Farm Project (Panigayan, Isabela, Basilan), Bagong Lipunan Regional Prawn Hatchery Project (Naawan, Misamis Oriental), Liguasan Marsh Freshwater Fisheries Project (Cotabato), and Lake Lanao Fish Cage Culture Project (Lanao del Sur).
The projects are intended to benefit dislocated families, rebel-returnees/former dissidents now working with the government, and low-income family groups in Southern Philippines.
The projects plan to cultivate prawn, milkfish, crabs, tilapia (especially red tilapia known as Gintong Biyaya), carp, catfish, snakehead (dalag), and other freshwater and aquatic species suitable for the region.
Funding includes a Thirty-Five Million Peso (P35M) equity contribution from the Special Activities Fund in the Office of the President, loans from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) upon presentation of feasibility studies, and funding assistance from external sources as secured by the SPDA.
The DBP is directed to extend loans to the SPDA to underwrite part of the project development costs based on appropriate detailed project feasibility and viability studies.
All these entities are directed to extend assistance to expedite implementation of the fishpond development projects as requested by the SPDA.
Management of the prawn hatchery and support facilities at Mindanao State University at Naawan, Misamis Oriental, is transferred to the SPDA to be utilized for commercial production of sugpo fry for distribution to fishpond operators in Southern Philippines.
Under Presidential Decree No. 1703, the SPDA is tasked to implement economic development projects in Southern Philippines.