Japan’s government and the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) are rolling out their projects with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to develop sustainable fishery value chain (SFVC) in the region.

Japanese Minister for Economic Affairs Yokota Naobumi and FAO representative Lionel Dabbadie led the groundbreaking for the aquaculture pond at Marawi City Jail that aims to equip persons deprived of liberty with livelihood skills to support their reintegration into society upon their release.

Yokota then visited a fishing association in the Municipality of Poona Bayabao. Members of the association are being trained on aquaculture feed mill operations, management and formulation under the SFVC, ahead of the construction of a feed mill building funded by the Japan government and FAO.