WBA conduct actual visits to Zamboanga City markets for their fresh and dried seafood produce

WBA participants interact with mall personnel of the KCC Mall de Zamboanga and
understand its procurement of fresh, dried, and processed seafood products.

Zamboanga City (March 29, 2022) - Municipal agriculturists, the office of the provincial agriculturist, provincial and municipal planning and development coordinators, provincial and municipal administrators, alliance management office staff, and officials from the BARMM Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) visit today selected markets in the city for their fresh and dried seafood products.

The first stop was at KCC Mall de Zamboanga City, where WBA, Basilan Provincial Government, and MAFAR personnel observe the products sold and the transaction at the fresh seafood market inside the mall. They also observe the dried fish stall and review processed seafood and local products on display from various food processors within the region. They interact with mall personnel in charge of procurement and replenishment, clarify mall product standards and business processes, and gather contact details.

The second stop is at Talon-Talon Loop, the dried fish center of the city, where participants interact with a big-time dried fish buyer to understand the supply and demand for dried fish around Mindanao as well as sourcing, product standards, pricing (buying and selling) scheme, and transport and logistics. They appreciate the huge cold storage facility constructed by the owner to maintain shelf life and to serve as a buffer for high season when demand for dried fish is high and supply is low. The participant also interact with a big-time fish drier where they saw actual salting and drying processes and the standards being followed at every step of the way.

The third and final stop is interaction with a fish broker facilitating buying and selling of fresh seafood at the city’s main market. The fish broker also explains how products are being sourced from the BARMM island provinces, transported to the city, and in transit to local markets and markets throughout Mindanao.

According to Prof Francis Arroyo, the marketing consultant, today’s activity combines access to and first-hand interaction with mall market, fish drier and distributor, and brokers in Zamboanga City. This will give participants grounded experiences as they explore marketing as a WBA strategy to assist their local fisherfolks and traders by connecting the latter to markets in Zamboanga City and beyond.

The remaining two days provide the participants an opportunity to reflect on the marketing viability and find creative and efficient ways to operate it WBA-wide and sustainably.

WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.

WBA undertakes marketing tour

Mayor Hans Bud of Maluso and interim chair of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) welcoming the participants from Basilan Provincial Government, municipalities of Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso and Sumisip, and MAFAR Regional and Provincial Office. (Photo credit: Municipality of Maluso Facebook)

March 28, 2022 (Zamboanga City) – The Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) commences its marketing tour in this city and is complemented by a workshop to develop its marketing operations guide from today, March 28 up to April 1, 2022. The participants in this joint activity include the municipal agriculturists, the office of the provincial agriculturist, provincial and municipal planning and development coordinators, provincial and municipal administrators, alliance management office staff, and officials from the BARMM Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR).

According to Sheila Marie Acquiatan, MILAB Project Coordinator, this activity was based on the earlier value chain analysis and creates a platform for new and shared livelihood opportunities among WBA local governments. Hadji Muhtamad was the proponent of fresh sea produce marketing, while Maluso proposed for marketing of dried sea products. Sumisip was interested in cassava contracting and Lantawan on root crops expansion and processing.

Prof Francis Arroyo, the marketing consultant, said, this marketing tour combines access to and first-hand interaction with the mall market, fish drier and distributor, and brokers in Zamboanga City. The workshop begins to think about organizing their operations and marketing their fresh and dried sea produce. This is about capacitating and building sustainability early on in the project cycle.

Mayor Hans Bud of Maluso and interim chair of WBA in his welcome address extols the participants to continue supporting the WBA and be active in its activities, such as the one today. He recalls the alliance-building journey from five (5) years ago, when their motivation to work together met with support from the late Fr Eliseo “Jun” Mercado Jr, OMI, lead policy advisor of the Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG) who visited the province and his team on a listening tour to see how meaningful and committed the local government executives in pursuing the path of alliance building. Eventually, generating the interest and support of the AECID the Spanish aid agency. 

Mayor Bud mentions how the WBA is now in its institutionalization phase, standardizing its processes, creating shared livelihood platforms such as the marketing tour this week. He also states how Maluso municipality in its latest strategic planning is aligning its effort with WBA through their peace, environment, and tourism priority.

WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.